A Fiery Vortex

Fringed tulip

Poppy

Tulip

In the 17th century, "Tulip mania" struck the Netherlands driving the price of tulip bulbs to extraordinary levels. Some believe as much as 10 times the anual wage of a skilled craftsman. On one account, 12 acres of land was offered for a single bulb. Fortunes were made overnight until Febuary of 1637 when the bubble popped causing fortunes to be lost overnight. Tulip Mania is generally recognized as the first recorded speculative bubble and is still referenced at the onset of other speculative bubbles.

Western Columbine

Aquilegia formosa. Bud stage, Washington USA

Western Columbine

Aquilegia formosa. Lower view, Washington USA

Western Columbine

Aquilegia formosa. Side view, Washington USA

Jack-in-the-pulpit

This plant, found in the eastern half of the U.S., grows flowers of both sexes but is not self polinating. It first produces male flowers then female flowers after the male flowers have matured and died off. Flies that are attracted to the smell of this flower do the polinating.

Spotted Coralroot

This orchid makes up for its lack of chlorophyll by becoming a parasite of fungi. I find these parasitic plants both fascinating and beautiful. I consider myself lucky when I stumble upon them. This one was found on a trail leading to a waterfall and was in pristine enough condition to warrant a return hike to retrieve the camera.

California Snow Flower

I've photographed a number of parasitic flowers that have a symbiotic relationship with a photosynthesizing host but had only heard rumor of the plant kingdom's ménage à trois, up until now. This snow flower is one of those threesomes. It taps into a symbiotic fungus that relies on a photosynthesizing plant and becomes a third party or "mycorrhizal cheater". Although the description doesn't sound flattering, they are quite the wonder to stumble upon. Northern California, USA.

Yellow Pond Lily

This water lily is adapted for anaerobic respiration which means it can respire without oxygen. A byproduct of this respiration is ethanol alcohol which is why one of its close relatives has the common name of brandy-bottle.

Indian Paintbrush

Macro of an indian Paintbrush (castilleja). These wildflowers stand out amongst the greenery along sunny roadsides in many places I've traveled in the west.

The Eye of a Daisy

Closeup of the birth of a flower.

St. John's-wort

Hypericum perforatum

White Champion

Silene latifolia

While Chicory

Cichorium intybus

Fringe cup

Tellima grandiflora

Tiger Lily

Western North America native Lilium columbianum at peak bloom.

Pacific coralroot

Corallorrhiza mertensiana - a leafless, parasitic, perennial orchid native to the northwestern conifer forests of North America

Dew on Purple Aster

Crocosmia Seed

Marah oreganus

Coast manroot/bigroot, buds and flowers

Western Fairy Slipper

Calypso bulbosa in puberty

Poppy Ovary

Poppy ovary, pistil and stamen

Dew On Pink Phlox