Purple irises

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Purple irises

May 10, 2016 by Mike Powell

The past two weeks have been filled with intermittent rain and constant clouds, so I have not been able to chase dragonflies as I like to do at this time of year. The rain has been good for the flowers, however, and the garden of my photography mentor and neighbor Cindy Dyer is now full of beautiful bearded irises. Yesterday I attempted to capture some of the beauty of the purple ones in different stages of development. I particularly like the way the first image turned out, where the blurry image in the background gives a foretaste of the beauty that is to come when the bud opens up.

Speaking of Cindy Dyer, I was thrilled recently when I learned that another of her images will appear as a United States Postal Service (USPS) stamp. Her image of Sacred Lotuses at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens will be part of a 16-stamp series celebrating the centennial of the National Park Service. The series will be officially unveiled in New York City on June 2. Check out this announcement from the USPS for more information and to see her beautiful image.

Posted in Flowers, Gardening, Photography | Tagged Alexandria VA, Canon 24-105mm, Canon 50D, Cindy Dyer, iris, purple iris, Runnymeade | 8 Comments

8 Responses

on May 10, 2016 at 9:44 am | Reply Sally Morris

I do like the first one. with the shadow of the full grown flower in the back ground, it gives the idea of when you grow up, you’ll be just like that!
In Montclair, NJ is one of the most famous iris gardens in the world. The Presby Iris Gardens. Every year around Memorial Day, the Irises are at their peak. Check out the paintings by my friend Sharon Pitts studio. She does a fabulous job with watercolors and Irises are her best subject.
- on May 11, 2016 at 4:21 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Sally. The first one is my favorite image of the series. I’ll be sure to check out your friend’s paintings–irises are such wonderful subjects.
on May 10, 2016 at 12:48 pm | Reply Jet Eliot

Spectacular iris series, Mike. Great news about Cindy Dyer’s stamp images. I’m glad you gave us the heads-up, I will look for them.
- on May 11, 2016 at 4:19 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Jet.
on May 10, 2016 at 8:22 pm | Reply mvschulze

Beautiful images, mike. M 🙂
- on May 11, 2016 at 4:19 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. Mostly I go for realism in my nature shots, but in this case “pretty” was my goal.
on May 12, 2016 at 4:56 am | Reply New Hampshire Garden Solutions

Beautiful. Certain flowers mark the passage of time for me and here in New Hampshire iris blossoms will mean that it’s June already. It seems to happen quicker every year.
- on May 12, 2016 at 5:18 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  This season has been strange. I think that today is the 15th or 16th day in a row we have had measurable rain. I personally would love to see some sun for a change.