Next letter is O
The deadline is April 4, 2007. The email address is flowerfestival[at]gmail[dot]com.
Looking forward to seeing you all at the next round-up!
Round up for N
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7
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N
Nelumbo nucifera (Lotus) from Mythreyee:
Medium: Pen & Ink sketchMythreyee has a fantasy sketch of the National Flower of India - Lotus also known as Nelumbo nucifera which has a number of common names, including blue lotus, Indian lotus, sacred lotus, bean of India, and sacred water-lily. Botanically, Nelumbo nucifera (Gaertn.) may also be referred to by its former names, Nelumbium speciosum (Wild.) or Nymphaea nelumbo. This plant is an aquatic perennial, but if its seeds are preserved under favorable circumstances, they may remain viable for many years.
In ancient Egypt, Nelumbo nucifera was unknown, being introduced only at the time of the Persian invasions, late in ancient Egyptian history. The ancient Egyptians venerated the blue water-lily, Nymphaea caerulea, which was sometimes known as the "blue lotus" or "sacred lotus".N. nucifera was native to a huge area from modern Vietnam to Afghanistan, being spread widely as an ornamental and food plant. In 1787 it was first brought into horticulture in Western Europe as a stove-house water-lily under the patronage of Sir Joseph Banks and can be seen in modern botanical garden collections where heating is provided. Today it is rare or extinct in the wild in Africa but widely naturalized in southern Asia and Australia, where it is commonly cultivated in water gardens.
You can find a photograph of the same flower on Flower Fest under Lotus here.
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Sree's search for a "N" flower led her to water lilies or Nymphaea. A very common garden water lily, it blooms during the day and shades from light lilac to rich blue. Extremely beautiful almost luminiscent blossoms which have a sweet strong scent. They are about 8-11 inches in height. This beautiful flower is also called "Neelkamal" in Hindi.
Medium : Photography
During Shilpa's nature treks and hiking adventures, Narrow-leaved Sunflowers caught her eyes. These are wildflowers native to the United States and belong to the family Asteraceae. The small plant has many stems branching out, the leaves narrow and dark green. They are often found growing wild in swamps, ditches and moist areas. Because of these reasons, they get the common names Narrow-leaved Sunflower and Swamp Sunflower. The flowers are yellow, bright and appear in fall and early summer.
Medium: Watercolor on paper
New England Aster is a wildflower that blossoms in pink and purple with tinges of blue. They bloom between August and September and attract a lot of butterflies. There could be anywhere between 30 and 50 petals in a single flower. They like sandy areas and you can find them blooming in the banks of streams.
Medium: Photography
Anita sends in these pictures of her Nasturtium patch. She says: they are the absolute favourite food of butterflies - leaves as well as flowers. The caterpillars eat the nasturtiums and leave all the other plants well alone!
Nasturtiums can be found on Flower Fest by their common name, Indian Watercress.
If you would like to participate in the Flower Festival, do send in your photographs, sketches or paintings to flowerfestival[at]gmail[dot]com.
Next up, N
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The first letter in the second half of the alphabet! N.
The deadline is March 21, 2007. The email address is flowerfestival[at]gmail[dot]com.
Please include a brief description about your flower. A heart-warming story is also welcome!
The deadline is March 21, 2007. The email address is flowerfestival[at]gmail[dot]com.
Please include a brief description about your flower. A heart-warming story is also welcome!
Round up for M
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Labels:
Flower festival,
Oil painting,
Photography,
Watercolor
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4
comments
Magnolia
M
Participant: Priya
Magnolia is named after Magnol, a French botanist. It is a resident of America, South East Asia, China, Australia, South America and West Indies. There are many hybrid varieties and this painting is of Saucer Magnolia. During Spring it is a common sight to see a magnolia tree in full bloom with these pinkish white flowers. When you spot a magnolia tree with buds that are about to open, you can be sure that Spring is very near. The flowers bloom on bare branches even before the leaves have sprouted.
Marsh Marigold
Medium : Photography
Participant: Mythreyee
Marsh Marigold is wildflower is common in swampy areas and along stream banks. They emerge from shallow water or grow on small mounds holding the plant just above the water. During their dormant period the soil must not be allowed to dry at all. Marsh Marigolds are a welcome sight in early spring but seem to disappear as fast as they emerged. They transplant well but going into the spring muck to dig them up can not be described as easy. Adding Marsh Marigolds to a water garden is well worth the effort.
May Flower
Medium: Digital Photography
Participant: Bachodi
The beautiful May flower, better known in the Indian subcontinent as the gul mohar.
Melampodium
Medium : Oil on Canvas board
Participant: Sree
Melampodium looks very similar to the common sunflower and belongs to the species - Melampodium paludosum. It does not require any special care except for abundant sunlight. Small button like flowers come in yellow and sometimes white and the plants are bushy rarely growing higher than a meter. It is also called blackfoot. The flowers dry up to release small seeds which fall off and grow into new plants prolifically.
Mimosa Pudica
Medium: Digital Photography
Participant: Prashanth M
Mimosa pudica, a weed and a touch-me-not.
Morina longifolia
Medium: Digital Photography
Participant:Anita
Morina longifolia is an Himalayan wildflower with thistle like foliage, pink and white flowers, in whorls, borne on two-three feet tall spikes. Flowers (in the Valley of Flowers) between June and September.
Morning Glory
Medium: Digital Photography
Participant: Shilpa
Morning Glory is a fast growing trailing plant with heart shaped leaves and trumpet shaped flowers. They are native to tropical America and belong to the genus Ipomoea. They are popular in gardens and are grown to cover fences and compound walls. The twining vines can be troublesome if left unchecked, but the flowers are always a delight when in bloom.
You can find a digital art entry of this flower on Flower Fest under their genus name Ipomoea.
Mountain Harebell
Medium: Digital Photography
Participant: Manisha
Mountain harebells, from the genus Campanula are typically found in the montane and subalpine zones. Mountain harebells have bell-shaped blue-violet flowers that are about an inch in length. These are also known as bluebells of Scotland.
Muscari Armeniacum
Medium: Digital Photography
Participant: Shilpa
Muscari Armeniacum is one of the early spring flowers from the Hyacinthcea family. The green spikes shoot up from the ground and produce clusters of bright blue flowers which look like bells. The pretty flowers have a lovely fragrance and attract bees.
That's half the alphabet done! Woo hoo!
We're moving on to N, so is you have a late entry for M, send it to flowerfestival[at]gmail[dot]com as soon as possible!
A request to all participants, please include a short description of your flower when you submit your entry. Tell us where you found the flower, what caught your eye about this flower or an interesting incident relating to the flower you are submitting.
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