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Tag Archives: Virginia garden

Buddha Toad

14 Tuesday Aug 2012

Posted by Claire Eddins in Flora and Fauna, Frogs and Toads, Home and Garden, Inspiration, Nature, Virginia

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Amphibian, Anaxyrus quercicus, animal conservation, Central Virginia, extinction, Flora and Fauna, garden, garden photography, iPhoneography, lifestyle, nature, nature photography, Oak Toad, summer, toad, Virginia garden, Virginia Herpetplogical Society, Virginia toad, Virginia wildlife

Every once in a while, you run into an individual who’s got that “It” thing going on. You know, the bigger-than-life types… the ones who exude confidence, awareness and over-the-top, in-yer-face personality. The ones with an undeniable energy. The ones who stake their claim to the space simply by being there.

And, in my experience, these It-Factor types occur with animals as well as humans.

And every once in a while, I run into an animal who just oozes It-Factor. Like my Buddha Toad here. I mean no disrespect to the followers of Buddhism, however, I do think he seems to have attained some sort of knowledge and enlightenment. Just look at him. When he sits back in my hand and looks out at the world (and scornfully at me), I am convinced that he knows far more than I do…

My research indicates that this little fellow may be an Oak Toad (Anaxyrus quercicus). According to the Virginia Herpetological Society, these little toads are quite rare in the state and require a “very high conservation need” as the species is at high risk for extinction or extirpation.

Photo note: I tried, tried, tried, to achieve a photo with Buddha Toad’s nose in the same focal plane as the rest of his body… however, my trusty iPhone camera was not so trusty on that day; Buddha Toad’s nose remains out of focus in a photo or two. But then, I figured his personality transcends all technical issues… so I’ve published anyway. I promise to find another It-Factor amphibian and try again!

All photos taken with an iPhone 4. © 2012 EddinsImages

Mighty Mushroom

13 Monday Aug 2012

Posted by Claire Eddins in Flora and Fauna, iPhoneography, Lifestyle, Nature, Summer, Virginia

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Flora and Fauna, garden, garden photography, iPhoneography, lifestyle, mushroom, nature, nature photography, summer, Virginia, Virginia garden, Virginia plants

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Spring Flowers After the Storm

01 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by Claire Eddins in Flora and Fauna, Flowers, Home and Garden, iPhoneography, Nature, Spring

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Tags

clemaits photo, Clematis, Clematis Henrii, coral rose, flower, flower closeup, flower photography, flowers in rain, garden, garden photography, iPhone Photography, Knock Out rose, mini rose, purple clematis, Rose, rose photo, spring flowers, Sunny Knock Out rose, Virginia garden, wet flowers, white clematis, yellow rose

Sunny Knock Out® after the morning rain. © 2012 EddinsImages

This morning began with a thunderstorm. Afterwards, I took my trusty iPhone out to the garden to snap some photos of raindrop-laden blooms.

Then, I crunched the front-end of my truck on my way to the office.

*sigh*

Purple clematis, real close! © 2012 EddinsImages

Since I’ve not been able to get any real work done today, I decided to post a few of this morning’s flower pics…

So far, they’ve been the best part of my day.

Clematis Henrii after the showers. © 2012 EddinsImages

And they make me smile.

Mini rose after the rain. © 2012 EddinsImages

Hopefully, I’ll have a better day tomorrow.

Purple clematis close-up. © 2012 EddinsImages

I won’t wreck the truck (been there, done that).

Clematis Henrii Bud.© 2012 EddinsImages

And tomorrow, I’ll get some real work done!

Wet purple clematis leaf. © 2012 EddinsImages

All photos taken with an iPhone 4. © 2012 EddinsImages

Drama Queen Iris ‘Batik’ Welcomes Spring

13 Friday Apr 2012

Posted by Claire Eddins in Flora and Fauna, Flowers, Home and Garden, iPhoneography, Nature, Spring

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

American Iris Society Award, award winning flower, award winning iris, bearded iris, Ensminger, flower photography, hardy flowers, Iris Batik, iris closeup, iris germanica, Knowlton Medal, perennials, purple and white iris, purple iris, Virginia garden

Award-winning Iris germanica “Batik” is stunning close-up.© 2012 EddinsImages

Look who came out to play in my Spring garden yesterday!

Award winning Iris germanica “Batik” is a dramatic, and I daresay, show-stopping garden plant that blooms Spring and Summer. Such a Drama Queen! I can’t imagine my garden without several of these flashy sword-leaved beauties featuring royal-purple flowers with random spatters and streaks of white on its standards and falls. In fact, I plan to add more to my garden each year.

Iris “Batik” is a hardy and most dramatic garden bloomer. © 2012 EddinsImages

For an iris, “Batik” shows a rather conservatively sized yellow beard. Hybridized by grower Ensminger in 1985, the 26-36″ border bearded iris was awarded the American Iris Society Honorable Mention in 1988, the Award of Merit  in 1990, and the Knowlton Medal  in 1992. Like everything in my garden, this perennial plant is easy to grow and should return year after year. It likes sun, is drought tolerant and may be easily propagated by dividing rhizomes, tubers, or bulbs.

Can’t wait to see what blooms in my garden tomorrow…

All photos taken with an iPhone 4. © 2012 EddinsImages

Springtime Clematis Blooms

12 Thursday Apr 2012

Posted by Claire Eddins in Flora and Fauna, Flowers, Home and Garden, iPhoneography, Nature, Spring

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Blue Ridge garden, Clematis, Clematis Nelly Moser, Climbing flower, garden, Pink flower, Spring flower, Spring garden, Virginia, Virginia climbing flower, Virginia garden, Virginia plants

Clematis Nelly Moser announces Spring’s arrival in central Virginia. © 2012 EddinsImages

I have a love-hate relationship with Spring. After frigid temperatures and months of nothing but dull landscapes of brown and grey, April’s warm weather – along with peeps of fresh green outside – are always welcome. Yet, it seems that I always get excited too soon. You see, invariably, an early thaw leads to a few warm days.

Yea!

Then, it gets cold again.

Wah!

Worst of all, many plants that dare to bloom during the early thaw, ultimately, wither and die. (I’d share photos of my husband’s tomato plants, but, it is too depressing). I hate that.

Nevertheless, I’ve learned that my clematis are better timekeepers than I. They seem to get it just right, year after year. And, when clematis variety “Nelly Moser” finally opens her petals, I know that Spring weather is here to stay. My striped, candy-pink Nelly, above, is just a newbie. Planted last fall, she is actually the smallest of all my clematis plants (there’s not much more to her than what’s shown in the photo), and yet, she is still the first to bloom, along with another couple of my youngsters, white clematis “Henrii.” My Henrii group are a bit less protected than the single Nelly Moser, and they got whipped in the wind during the last few days. My first-to-appear Henrii bloom looks a little shabby. I didn’t take his photo.

Now that I think of it, the Nelly Moser is just sitting in clay soil (not good for her) and, still,  she is first to bloom! Note to self: amend soil or move Nelly…

Regardless, both Nelly Moser and Henrii are fairly common varieties and are regarded as excellent repeat bloomers, each with a relatively long flowering season. Although, I remember not being overly impressed with either variety when I was first familiar with clematis, (candy cane pink = too cute; white = boring), I’ve come around over the years. Because of their easy maintenance, excellent hardiness, great repeat blooming, potential for sizable blooms (Nelly Moser, up to 9 inches; Henrii up to 7 inches ) as well as prolific blooming – I’ve had these varieties absolutely smothered with flowers, even when I’ve totally neglected them –  each has grown to become an all-time favorite of mine. Best of all, I adore roses, and clematis make perfect rose companions.

Hummm… now that Spring has arrived, my rose buds will open soon.

I just love Spring!

Photo taken with an iPhone 4. © 2012 EddinsImages

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  • Beloved, Award-winning Toy
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