Botanica VI

[marlunn]

Another in my series of Botanical drawing shots, this is a Primrose, Primula vulgaris. For me it is a real sign of spring in the UK - subtle and shy but so nice to see

Its still work in progress as I will wait till it goes to seed then include the seedhead detail in the final image

[xpatUSA]

Very theme-like, Mark.

I've always liked botanical drawings with their subtle colors and that image is most evocative of the genre.

[marlunn]

Thanks Ted, appreciated

[John 2]

Evocative of those beautiful botanical illustrations seen in Victorian books on the subject. Haven't seen any primroses yet but the Snow Drops have been around for a bit and the Crocuses are reaching full flood.

[Wavelength]

Very beautiful........

[Geoff F]

One other thing to consider with the flower head, Mark. Is this the thrum-eyed centre or the pin-eyed centre variation? I can't quite see which from those angles.

Primrose petals can vary considerably in shape as well. Which is something that tends to be overlooked until you start to closely examine a number of plants.

[Rainforest]

What a great project idea! It would be another way to enjoy my garden efforts. I could do a whole series on garden weeds, ha, ha.

[marlunn]

Cheers John, the snowdrops are going over here and the crocuses are about to, the primrose now coming in fully
Thanks Nandakumar, appreciated
Geoff, news to me there are thrum eyed and pin eyed, will have to look that up and check the plants, thanks for that.
Susan, enjoy, I had a long discussion with a botanical artist at a RHS show and decided to try this, its not a replacement, just another option and a bit of a homage in reality. Printed on art paper finishes them off nicely

[Shadowman]

Nicely captured.

[marlunn]

Thanks John, appreciated

[Geoff F]

This is the pin eyed centre, Mark



And the thrumb eyed centre



Have a look and see which is the dominant version in your area. They can often be found growing side by side with roughly equal numbers.

It appears these variations can be important in pollination with one requiring a long tongued insect for pollination while the other can be pollinated by a much wider number of species.

[marlunn]

Geoff, suspect pin eyed given this -

[Geoff F]

Yes, pin eyed. That image nicely shows what happens and why something like a bee fly is so good at pollination.

[marlunn]

I do recall a fair number of bee flies last year all around the primroses in the lawn, the primroses appeared on their own



but also Rhingia campestris

[IzzieK]

I like the insect shots more as they are more animated in nature. I enjoyed this series and hope to get my head into close up photography more when my fingers are healed some more. Fact I am so envious of what you, Geoff and John have done with your insects and flowers I booked myself on Close Up Photography at the Botanical Gardens this Spring. So much to learn, so much beauty to see up close and personal. Thanks Mark.

[billtils]

With the usual qualification, namely that any comment dealing with "like" is a matter of subjective taste, the hoverfly is by far my favourite of the set.

[Wavelength]

Excellent images

[marlunn]

I am envious Izzie, that should be fab, I look forward to seeing your images,

Cheers Bill, indeed it would be boring if we all 'liked' the same things

Thanks Nandakumar, appreciated

[Geoff F]

From that angle you nicely show that amazing tongue of the Rhingia as well as the Bee Fly feeding tube.

Those Bee Flies keep flitting from one flower to the next and always seem to be moving one second faster than my focusing time.

[marlunn]

Geoff, I ended up pre focused on the flower as it was on a flower to the left and waited for it to move into frame - there was no chance of follow focus on them as they moved!