Tuesday, April 13, 2010

i get by with a little help from my friends

[Tulips, Azalea and Hyacinth]
Gosh, I was stumped there for a while. Then I tried a new way to identify something. This was the situation: I didn't know what one of these flowers was called, so I posted the pic on Facebook and asked for help. People chimed in and I found out that it is a Rhododendron; more specifically, an Azalea. Frankly, the birds have been easier for me to find on the web. One guy suggested it was an oak. He is sharp when it comes to techno-stuff, and wisecracks, but not botany.

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I hope you don't get the impression that I am a wannabe ornithologist or botanist. I just put the proper names when I can find them, because it seems to be standard operating procedure. Please forgive me if I break protocol from time to time. But by all means, if you have any corrections or clarifications, I would be happy to receive the benefit of your expertise.

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This time around, I didn't have blue sky or bumble bees to add something special to the flowers, so I nabbed a spray bottle and misted them a little.

15 comments:

Every Square Inch said...

don't know much about botany but tulips are a favorite in our home.

Carletta said...

These are exquisite my friend!
They would have been just as beautiful without the mist. :)

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

No bugs?? I am disappointed in you my friend. How can you post anything which does not contain a bug? LOL!!

It is amazing how many helpful people there are out there and so we continue to learn.

Beautiful pictures Craver. We are going into winter so things are turning that dull brown color which I am sure you know all about. :)

mommanator said...

no wonder they are perfect

Gaelyn said...

Nice idea to give the flowers a shower. ;-) And to check online for identifying birds and plants. I have so many field guides sometimes I can't find anything.
Nice shots Craver. Now, will you remember what they're called?

Craver Vii said...

Tulips are bright, colorful and happy flowers. ESI, I wonder if the reason you like them goes beyond that (same as me). For their acronym.

Trust me Carletta. I took photos with and without mist. Besides, I think they were happy when I brought an H2O treat with my little visit.

The dark spot inside a tulip fooled me into thinking that there was a bumblebee inside, but alas, no bugs of any kind were visible. That's the key though, isn't it Joan. They weren't visible, and yet we know they abound. I hope we Northerners can brighten your winter days with our warm weather photos and stories. Sit around the hearth with us and share the warmth of our fellowship.

Too kind, Mommanator. I keep trying to learn how to show them better though.

Remember?? Gaelyn, I think there is a small, but steady leak in my brain. I seem to forget more information than what's being learned. At this rate, I will end up being a clean slate in... Yikes! Nevermind.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Craver: Wait until you try to do bugs, there are so many that even a good helping site leaves you confused. I could have named them all but they get a lot harder then this.

George said...

The spray bottle did the trick -- these are all wonderful pictures. I'm glad you can get help from your friends.

EG CameraGirl said...

I like your mosaic, Craver. Yes, it's amazing how much knowledge is out there if we just ask for a little help. I like to add the botanical names to plants because there are so many folk names that apply to more than one plant.

NO BUGS? Well, then I'm outta here!

Craver Vii said...

Right. There's an Entomology angle too, Fishing Guy. One day I'm going to have to identify a bird eating a bug from a flower... and I'll have to find all of their proper names. I hope you don't mind if I occasionally just shoot the picture.

Thanks George. I'm pleased to have recently made your acquaintance, and have been enjoying the posts on your blog.

Botanical names would make a nice addition EG. I like it when I see something, and it has the scientific Latin in italics next to the common name. If I had a little more time, I would probably do that, too. Don't worry... I'll get some bugs for you. :-)

dot said...

You did good with the pictures. They are gorgeous! Azaleas must be more of a southern flower. They are every where here.

Chris said...

Well, life is often telling us that one man cannot know everything... Life is too dense and variable outside, so no worries for the names. The pictures are beautiful and that's enough ;-)

lime said...

oh so pretty!

i'm content if you label them accurately "vegetable, mineral, animal" ;)

Craver Vii said...

Thanks, Dot. It's funny how I never even thought of learning the flowers' names before. Maybe it's a guy thing, that unless it relates to his work, a flower is a flower is a flower. Not absolute and irrefutable - mind you, but a truism.

Wise and kind words, Chris. Of course, that is coming from a man who takes phenomenal pictures and knows the names of all those amazing birds. ;-)

Hey, I think I can do that, Lime. Thanks!

imac said...

Spray, oh you cheat,lol, you're getting the idea now.lol
Nice collection Craver.