Macro Flowers Saturday #8-Mimulus Tigrinus-Tiger Monkey Flower

Welcome to Macro Flowers Saturday!

I wish all of you a beautiful weekend and hope you have many beautiful flowers today, as always.
I bought some new flowers a few days ago.
This is one of them - Mimulus Tigrinus or on its common name Tiger Monkey flower.
I love its large bright yellow flowers spotted with red & mahogany.
Mimulus are called monkey-flowers because some species have flowers shaped like a monkeys face, others have painted faces resembling a monkey. The name mimulus comes from Latin mimus, meaning "mimic actor"or from the Greek mimos meaning "imitator".


This flower really knows how to please you; it had two open blossoms when I bought it and in the morning I had the pleasure to see a new, third bloom.
I have to replant it in a bigger pot and I am afraid to disturb it.

All I could find out about Mimulus is that it can also be grown indoors as a house plant and it grows best in a mostly shady area with rich soil kept fairly moist.
If any of you knows more, please let me know. I should like to keep it alive as much as possible.

First time visitors, please read the rules:
1) Post a photograph taken by you that contains a flower macro;
2) Add your name and link to linky list and make sure your link is a "permalink" and goes directly to your Macro Flowers Saturday post.
3) Link back to Macro Flowers Saturday in your post, so others will know where to go if they want to join. You may use one of the Macro Flowers Saturday badges from my sidebar;

- to install the badge, just copy the text from the box in my sidebar and paste it in your sidebar or in you Macro Flowers Saturday post.
- for a simple text link, copy the code from bellow and paste it in your post. Please don't link to the Macro flowers Saturday search label, here is the right link:

<a href="http://macroflower-saturday.blogspot.com/">Macro Flowers Saturday</a>

4) Please visit and show your appreciation by commenting on other Macro Flowers Saturday participants' beautiful work.
This meme starts Friday 5 pm GMT.

Have a pleasant stay!

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Purple Deadnettle-Lamium purpureum

Nettles are my favorite medicinal herbs.
Purple Dead-nettle, or Purple Archangel (Lamium purpureum) is a member of the mint family.
Its bright red-purple flowers are a prominent source of pollen for bees in March-April, when bees need the pollen as protein to build up their nest.

The entire plant is edible,very nutritious, high in iron, vitamins and fiber. The top leaves of young plants are good in salads and if finely chopped it can also be used in sauces.

Medicinal uses:

Purple Dead-nettle is used as an astringent, diuretic, purgative and tonic. Lab tests show that Lamium purpureum seed oil possess high antioxidant activities.

The dried herb, made into a tea and sweetened with honey, promotes perspiration and acts on the kidneys, being useful in cases of chill.

The leaves are also useful to staunch wounds, when bruised and outwardly applied.

Purple Dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum) is often confused with its sister, the Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule).
Their flowers are similar pink-purple but their leaves are more distinctive; Lamium purpureum leaves are more triangular shaped and youngest leaves are purple and have petioles while Lamium amplexicaule leaves are round shaped with rounded teeth along their edge.

Lamium purpureum

RECIPES:

Medicinal tea: Add 2 tbsp. fresh or dried herb to 1 cup water steep for 10 min. strain and drink in 1/2 cup doses, for laxative, and general tonic.

Pot Herb: Boil flowers and young leaves in water for 25 to 30 min. drain, season to taste. It can be cooked the same way as spinach. It has an astringent taste.

Lamium amplexicaule

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Echinacea Purpurea-Purple Coneflowers

Echinacea Purpurea flowers, commonly known as Purple Coneflowers, Snakeroot, are members of the Asteraceae family.
Some species are cultivated as garden flowers for their showy flower head and some, in herbal medicine.

The genus name is from the Greek word "echinos", meaning hedge hog.
Like all Asteraceae, Echinacea flowers have a cone-shaped head.
Once the flower head opens, the petals of the outer ray florets are flexed downward, thus forming a cone. Hence the name.

Medicinal Action and Uses.

Echinacea is popularly believed to supports and stimulate immune system and helps provide additional protection against infections.

While the exact chemical compounds responsible for the plant's healing efficacy is unclear, its therapeutic value is well known.
The above-ground parts of the plant are used to make fresh juice, infusions (warm-water teas), and tinctures. The roots are used in either cut or powdered form for capsules, fluid extracts, teas, and tinctures.
The roots and the whole plant are considered particularly beneficial in the treatment of sores, wounds, burns etc, possessing cortisone-like and antibacterial activity. Echinacea plant was used by North American Indians as a universal application to treat the bites and stings of all types of insects.

-- Botanical.com --

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Yellow fringed tulips-crispa tulip photos

Fringed tulips also known as Crispa tulips or Lace tulips are single late tulips and they bloom late in the season.
The petals of fringed tulips look similar to a frayed edge of satin fabric.
These very elegant tulips can be found in the most magnificent colors known to tulips; pink, peach, yellow, red, purple, white and also bi-color varieties.
The fringe can be in the same or in a contrasting color.

This bright yellow fringed tulip is called Fringed Elegance.

Besides the ruffled edges of the petals this one has a red flamed petal too.


I'll post other colors of these beautiful, non traditional tulips too, in future posts.
Visit Mellow Yellow Monday for beautiful yellow themes.

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White Alstroemeria macro-Macro Flowers Saturday #7

Welcome to Macro Flowers Saturday!

I wish you all a flowery weekend and can't wait to see your beautiful flowers.
I'll display a white alstroemeria today, the flower of friendship.

Alstroemeria, also known as Peruvian Lily, Lily of the Incas and Parrot Lily is a members of the amaryllis family.
Alstroemeria is similar in appearance to lilies, hence the name. Albeit in miniature version.
The lovely and delicate looking white blooms are heart shaped, therefore, the Peruvian Lily is considered to be a flower of friendship.

I like how one petal, that with the speckles stands out from the rest.

See also the red Alstroemeria flowers.

Join Macro Flowers Saturday!
First time visitors, please read the rules.
Don't forget that you can participate not just with flower but parts of plants, details of trees, leaves, berries, seeds and nuts.
There are a great variety of wildflowers now in spring, they can be beautiful photo subjects.
I am always open to suggestions, new ideas.
Don't forget, I picture is worth thousand words!
Enjoy the fun!

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Red-pink dahlia picture-macro photography

Dahlia flowers are another example of perfect geometry, designed by mother nature.

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Pink-magenta geranium-macro photo

This modest little flower is another kind of geranium. I like its vivid pink petals with the crimson veins on it

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Single yellow rose-macro photography

Another rose photo, this time, a garden rose.

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Beautiful iris flower with ugly insects-macro photo

I took this photo in the Botanical Garden.
This is some kind of iris flower, beautiful but full of these ugly insects.

The bugs were not feeding on the iris flower but fighting each other and constantly moving.
I managed somehow to take an acceptable picture of them, after several tries.

Visit Macro Monday hosted by Lisa for many interesting macro photos.

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Macro Flowers Saturday #6-Beautiful roses

Welcome to Macro Flowers Saturday!

I wish all of you a beautiful weekend and hope you have many beautiful flowers today, as always.
Here is my contribution:

First time visitors, please read the rules:
1) Post a photograph taken by you that contains a flower macro;
2) Add your name and link to Linky Tools list (formerly MckLinky) and make sure your link is a "permalink" and goes directly to your Macro Flowers Saturday post.
3) Link back to Macro Flowers Saturday in your post, so others will know where to go if they want to join. You may use one of the Macro Flowers Saturday badges from my sidebar;

- to install the badge, just copy the text from the box in my sidebar and paste it in your sidebar or in you Macro Flowers Saturday post.
- for a simple text link, copy the code from bellow and paste it in your post.

<a href="http://macroflower-saturday.blogspot.com">Macro Flowers Saturday</a>
4) Please visit and show your appreciation by commenting on other Macro Flowers Saturday participants' beautiful work.
This meme starts Friday 5 pm GMT.
Have a pleasant stay!

Update: I didn't want to bore you with too much text but I should like to answer some comments.

It is a bit too cold for blooming roses still, these lovely roses are from the florist.

It is a custom here when you give flowers to someone to give them flowers from the florist rather than your own garden. It shows more respect and thoughtfulness.

There are many sad events happening this week and as we have national mourning day on Sunday I've subconsciously or maybe consciously posted these roses out of respect.

The list with past entries is at Macro Flowers Saturday archive page.

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Pink daisy chrysanthemums with a bee-close-up

Just some pink daisy chrysanthemums with a bee, today.

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Bee on white cherry blossoms-cherry blossom macros

This lovely bee does an impeccable work pollinating the cherry blossoms.
Unfortunately the constant raining will leave us without fruits.

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White purple flamed lily tulip-late blooming tulip macro photo

Late Spring Blooming- Lily Tulips are blooming from mid- to late spring.

These beautiful tulips bloom with an elegant white-purple color form early to mid May.

Their narrow pointed petals that curled outward are decorated with contrasting purple strikes.

They should be plant in sheltered areas, protected by wind.

Have a close look of this elegant spring beauty.

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Yellow parrot tulip pictures-Monsella Tulips

These fully opened Monsella Tulips are an amazing color display in the garden during late March and April. With their big and fluffy flower head, the blooms look like parrot tulips but they are not.

Monsella Tulips are slightly fragrant and have a striking color combination with bright yellow petals painted with red streaks.
"Tulipa Monsella" are double early tulips featuring large and long-lasting flowers on short sturdy stems.

Double Early Tulips are short plants, generally 30cm (12 in) tall.
They should be planted in places protected by strong wind.

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Lemon Lily-Yellow day-lily pictures

Lemon Lily or Yellow day-lily blooms in summer with fragrant, lemon yellow flowers in cluster of 3 to 7 flower.
Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus, on its botanical name, is one of the first daylilies used for breeding and is found in parts of Europe and China.

Lemon Lily has narrow, up to 75 cm (30 in) long leaves, forming big spreading clumps.
The flowers, young leaves and the tubers of this plant are edible and are used in Asiatic (Chinese and Japanese) cuisine.

This photo was taken in the Botanical garden of Cluj-Napoca (RO).

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Macro Flowers Saturday #5-Magnolia tree-magnolia flower pictures

Welcome to Macro Flowers Saturday!

I hope you are having a beautiful weekend and have many beautiful flowers to show.
Magnolia flowers are fully open now by us.
Today I contribute with a white magnolia tree full of flowers.

First time visitors, please read the rules:
1) Post a photograph taken by you that contains a flower macro;
2) After I post my Macro Flowers Saturday photo, add your name and link to MckLinky;
3) Your link must be a "permalink" and go directly to your Macro Flowers Saturday post.
4) Link back to Macro Flowers Saturday in your post, so others will know where to go if they want to join. You may use one of the Macro Flowers Saturday badges from my sidebar;

- to install the badge, just copy the text from the box in my sidebar and paste it in your sidebar or in you Macro Flowers Saturday post.
- for a simple text link, copy the code from bellow and paste it in your post.

<a href="http://macroflower-saturday.blogspot.com">Macro Flowers Saturday</a>
5) Please visit and show your appreciation by commenting on other Macro Flowers Saturday participants' beautiful work.
This meme starts Friday 5 pm GMT.
The list with past entries is at Macro Flowers Saturday archive page.

Have a pleasant stay!

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Violet-blue pansies-pansy flower photos

Blue and violet pansies are also lovely spring flowers.
We have them planted everywhere in the town and their pretty faces smile in the spring sunshine.

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Yellow wild roses-pictures

Two lovely yellow wild roses are a beautiful scene too.

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Single pink rose- rose photo

It is not yet summer but roses are always beautiful.
Here is a lovely pink rose surrounded by a dark green carpet of leaves.

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Pink cherry blossoms-Easter Sunday

HAPPY EASTER SUNDAY!
For Macro Flowers Saturday meme, please click the link in the navigation, above.

These cherry blossom photos are also from my blind shooting session, when I had no glasses with me and I was relying only on Canon's magic. I think, I shall never carry my glasses with me in the future.

Visit Scenic Sunday for beautiful scenery photos.
At Today's Flowers you can see beautiful flower photo from all around the world.

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Macro Flowers Saturday #4 - Purple hanging orchid

Welcome to Macro Flowers Saturday!

I hope you are having a beautiful Holy Week and to make it more beautiful, enchant us all with your lovely flowers.
My contribution is this beautiful hanging Vanda orchid, which I saw hanging on the walls of common florist boutique a few days ago.
It is the first time I see a hanging orchid with its long tendrils of roots dangling down.

Ignorant as I am I asked the florist why did he take it out from the pot?
I admired the brilliant colors and the large shape of the orchid flowers but it was very expensive and I decided to read about it first. I am glad I did because I found out that they are definitely tropical orchids and difficult plants.
Now I know, in the wild they grow on trees with their roots in the air.

Indoors, if hanging they will require soaking every day and they need lot of sunlight.
As gorgeous these orchids are and as much I should like to have one, with half a year cold weather, I couldn't offer them the proper care.

Happy Easter everyone!

First time visitors, please read the rules:
1)Post a photograph taken by you that contains a flower macro;
2)After I post my Macro Flowers Saturday photo, add your name and link to MckLinky;
3)Your link must be a "permalink" and go directly to your Macro Flowers Saturday post.
4)Link back to Macro Flowers Saturday in your post, so others will know where to go if they want to join. You may use one of the Macro Flowers Saturday badges from my sidebar;

- to install the badge, just copy the text from the box in my sidebar and paste it in your sidebar or in you Macro Flowers Saturday post.
- for a simple text link, copy the code from bellow and paste it in your post.

<a href="http://macroflower-saturday.blogspot.com">Macro Flowers Saturday</a>
5)It would be nice if you would leave a comment on my post and visit other Macro Flowers Saturday participants' blogs.
This meme starts each Friday 5 pm GMT.

The list with past entries is at Macro Flowers Saturday archive page.

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Purple violets with raindrops-pictures of perfumed violets

Purple violets are blooming everywhere in the gardens and even on the roadside, filling the air with their sweet perfume.
It is raining and they are a little bit down but still smiling under the raindrops.

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