Summer Snowflake

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Summer Snowflake

April 7, 2013 by Mike Powell

It may sound like an oxymoron, but I think that this pretty little flower really is called a Summer Snowflake (Leucojum aestivum).

Yesterday was a beautiful, sunny day and I took the opportunity to visit Green Spring Gardens, a local county-run local historical and horticultural center. It is still a little early in the season for most of the showy blossoms, but I came across several patches of the snowflake flower. Apparently there are two varieties of snowflakes—spring and summer—and, strange as it sounds, these are blooming so late that they are probably Summer Snowflakes.

My mind is still geared on photographing birds, so I was carrying around my camera with the 135-400mm telephoto lens. I had my macro lens in the bag I was carrying and probably should have changed lenses when I took some shots of this flower, but I guess the warmth of the sun made me feel a little lazy.

I took this shot at 400mm, which is equivalent to a 640mm on a 35mm camera, because of my crop-sensor camera. The shot is a little soft, but it is clear enough to show that I may have captured an additional subject. If you look closely at the top of the green stem, you will see what I think is a tiny spider. My fellow blogger and photography mentor, Cindy Dyer, likes to call these “bonus bugs.” You shoot check out her blog for some great shots of snowflake flowers and lots of other flowers too.

As insects and flowers return, I will have to retrain my eyes to focus on close-in details, rather than looking out into the distance, as I have during much of the winter when I was photographing a lot of birds. I look forward to the challenge.

Posted in Flowers, Gardening, Macro Photography, Nature, Photography | Tagged Alexandria VA, Canon Rebel XT, green spring gardens, Leucojum aestivum, Sigma 135-400mm telephoto zoom lens, snowoflake, Summer Snowflake | 12 Comments

12 Responses

on April 7, 2013 at 8:34 am | Reply New Hampshire Gardener

That’s interesting Mike. I’ve never seen or heard of this flower. Now I’m wondering why!
on April 7, 2013 at 11:55 am | Reply Charlie@Seattle Trekker

This is gorgeous. Spring is the time of anticipation, new beginnings, you really captured it well.
on April 7, 2013 at 12:21 pm | Reply caleephotography

Beautifully captured, Mike!! The flower looks a lot like snowdrops, but a bit more “clock shaped”, right? Very pretty!
- on April 7, 2013 at 1:11 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. From what I read, snowdrops have only one flower per stalk, while snowflakes have two to five. Check out this article. http://www.examiner.com/article/are-you-seeing-snowdrops-or-snowflakes
  - on April 7, 2013 at 1:16 pm caleephotography
    
    Interesting read! 🙂 Thanks for the info, Mike
on April 7, 2013 at 12:34 pm | Reply anisjarossi

Very nice capture.
- on April 7, 2013 at 1:12 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. I am quite frankly surprised that it came out this well shooting with the 400mm end of my telephoto zoom lens.
  - on April 7, 2013 at 1:22 pm anisjarossi
    
    There is always some surprise coming out in taking photos 🙂
on April 7, 2013 at 6:28 pm | Reply krikitarts

What a beautiful flower, and I’m a great fan of bonus bugs too, as you know. Nice work with the long lens, too. Sometimes they surprise us with what they can do when we give them the chance!
- on April 8, 2013 at 7:39 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Gary. I think this may be one of the shots in which I put the lens on a tripod. The SIGMA 135-400mm lens is an older lens that I bought used and reviews suggest that it needs good light and a really steady hand for optimal results. I am having a fun time learning to use the lens.
on April 23, 2014 at 7:48 am | Reply Tiny White Blooms at Green Spring Gardens | I see beauty all around by rob paine

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on July 30, 2014 at 6:01 pm | Reply My Favorite iPad Photo Editing Apps | I see beauty all around by rob paine

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