Garden Photo of the Day

Close-ups in Hugh’s Garden

Taking a closer look at flowers

By GPOD Contributor
close up of the center of a Crocus flower

Today’s photos are from Hugh Locke.

As cell-phone cameras have gotten better, I have been using mine to capture close-up images of the flowers in my garden in Westchester, New York (Zone 6b). My goal has been to focus on details like petals, stamens, and pistils rather than flower portraits. The folds, shading, and edges of a petal become a study in motion. A tiny floret becomes a flower. A petal becomes a contour map with color markings. None of these photos have been manipulated or filtered, other than being cropped. The last photo is of an indoor plant as a nod to the winter currently being endured until we can get back into the garden.

close up of yellow tulip petalsTulipa hybrid (Zones 3–7)

close up of tiny bluebeard flowersBluebeard (Caryopteris incana, Zones 7–9)

close up of white and green Snow-on-the-mountain flowerSnow-on-the-mountain (Euphorbia marginata, Zones 3–9)

close up fo purple and yellow irisSiberian iris (Iris sibirica, Zone 3–8)

close up of Snowdrop flowerSnowdrop (Galanthus nivalis, Zones 3–8)

close up of bright purple Lobelia petalsGreat blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica, Zones 4–9)

close up of tiny pink Lantana flowersLantana (Lantana camara, Zones 9–10 or as an annual)

close up of purple Giant larkspurGiant larkspur (Consolida ajacis, annual)

close up of pink New York ironweedNew York ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis, Zones 4–9)

close up of the center of a Crocus flowerCrocus (Crocus vernus, Zones 3–9)

close up of light purple Angelonia flowerAngelonia (Angelonia angustifolia, Zones 8–11 or as an annual)

close up of spiky pink Castor bean flowersCastor bean (Ricinus communis, Zones 9–11 or as an annual)

close up of purple African violet flowerAfrican violet (Saintpaulia lonantha, Zones 10–11 or as a houseplant)

 

Have a garden you’d like to share?

Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!

To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.

Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!

Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here.

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

isYoung Birdlook® Smart Bird Feeder with Camera

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Upgraded Dual Granary Bird Feeder. G11 Smart Bird Feeder with Camera – The upgraded dual granary design allows for separate food dispensing, giving birds the freedom to choose while preserving the food’s original taste. With a 2L extra-large capacity, it reduces the need for frequent refills. The drainage design ensures the food stays dry and prevents spoilage from rain. Ideal as a camera bird feeder for birdwatching enthusiasts. 2K HD Camera & Close-Up Bird Watching. Experience clear bird watching with the G11 smart bird feeder. This bird feeder with camera features a 170-degree wide-angle lens and a 1296P HD camera, ensuring vibrant images and videos. With AI-powered recognition, it can identify over 16,000 bird species (subscription required, first month free) and provides extensive birding knowledge. Its unique design helps attract more birds to your backyard. App Alerts & Super Night Vision. The smart bird feeder camera detects motion within 0.5 seconds and sends instant notifications through the "VicoHome" app. With a 2.4G Wi-Fi connection, you can view real-time updates on bird activity right from your app. The video bird feeder also features night vision, ensuring vibrant images and videos even in low light conditions. Ideal for wild bird feeders, this advanced functionality enhances your bird-watching experience day and night.
Buy at Amazon

Rain Bird PATIOKIT Drip Irrigation Patio Watering Kit

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

- Complete 42-piece drip irrigation kit eliminates watering by hand
- Provides drip irrigation for up to 6 planters
- Easy to assemble: just attach to faucet, cut tubing and connect watering devices
- Attaches easily to your outdoor faucet or hose
Buy at Amazon

Niteangel Natural Wooden Insect Hotel, Garden Insect House for Ladybugs, lacewings, Butterfly, Bee, Bug

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

The insect nest box provide a safe environment where garden creatures can shelter, hibernate and lay their eggs, the insect house can also keep insects from entering your warm room. The insect hotel makes it easy to find and observe fascinating creatures. the butterfly, bees and ladybugs can use this product as habitat. Dry wood and Bamboo can be home to many insects such as ladybirds and lacewings which eat aphids and help keep your plants pest-free. the insect hotel improve the growth of plants in your yard by attracting beneficial insects. The iron design on the top can keep the insect house from rainwater. Let the insect house have a longer useful life and make the insects more comfortable. If you only have a balcony or yard, the hanging garden shelter is ideal as it provides a choice of suitable habitats in a small area.
Buy at Amazon
X
View Comments

Comments

  1. sandyprowse 02/08/2023

    Hugh: How interesting to see the flowers from that perspective. I felt like I was touching the yellow and red tulip. Loved these pictures! Thank you.

  2. User avater
    treasuresmom 02/08/2023

    Very nice.

  3. fromvirginia 02/08/2023

    Stunning. It’s oddly peaceful and satisfying. Thanks for sharing!

  4. User avater
    simplesue 02/08/2023

    Great close up photography of some real garden beauties!
    Nice compositions & attention to details.
    Love the way you photographed the Snowdrop off to the side with the curl in the negative space- very artistic...they all are!

  5. gardenconcierge 02/08/2023

    Dear Hugh,

    Thanks for sharing your beautiful flowers from a bee's or butterfly's perspective. You have inspired me to play with some closeup photography this coming season.

  6. btucker9675 02/08/2023

    Joy!!!!

  7. jos29803 02/08/2023

    Thank you for giving us a different up close and personal prospective of the beauty and simplicity of flowers.

  8. jos29803 02/08/2023

    Thank you for giving us a different prospective of the beauty and simplicity of flowers.

  9. User avater
    cynthia2020 02/09/2023

    Hugh - I like looking at flowers close up, too. And noticing what lovely compositions are possible. I especially like the red and yellow tulip and how you captured the iridescence of the African violet.

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Related Articles

The Latest

Design
Episode 172: Focal Points with Susan Morrison

Susan Morrison, owner and principal designer at Creative Exteriors Landscape Design, has created hundreds of gardens in California’s East Bay area. Her designs incorporate comfortable outdoor rooms into landscapes of all…
Design
Join Us for a Tour of Gorgeous Gardens in Somerset County, UK!

Join us for an enchanting tour through the rolling hills surrounding southwest England, where you'll experience some of the finest private gardens and innovative landscapes at the heart of this…
Design
Finding Common Ground with Fido | Letter from the Editor

Do you remember the Pandemic Puppy phenomena of 2020? A large swath of the country was under lockdown thanks to COVID-19, and folks took in dogs left and right. In…

Video

View All Videos
Design

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be careful when you enter the backyard of garden designer Jeff Epping—not because you’re likely to trip on something, but because you might be dive-bombed by a pair…
Design

4 Midsummer Favorites From a Plant Breeder's Garden
Podcast: Let's Argue About Plants

Episode 171: Deer-Resistant Plants  
Design

Garden Tour of a Sustainable Native Plant Oasis Bursting with Fall Color
Podcast: Let's Argue About Plants

Episode 170: High-Impact Native Plants with Uli Lorimer