The Blue Trees Reach Florida

Blue Trees - this is an exhibit at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.  It was a great combination - the zoo had some stunning natural habitats, and then the crepe myrtle and magnolia trees have been painted with horticultural dye so that the trees stand out as sculptures in the gardens. The famous blue tree is by Claude Cormier and you can see it here.

What is Cyanotype?

At this time of year, the Lake is a muddy brown, almost  black and white naturally. The filter that's been applied is Cyanotype, and it intensifies the contrast so that the lines dominate the picture.  Cyanotype is actually a printing process that is used for blueprints.   Here's the Wikipedia definition of Cyanotype:

1. "Cyanotype is a photographic printing process that produces a cyan-blue print. Engineers used the process well into the 20th century as a simple and low-cost process to produce copies of drawings, referred to as blueprints. The process uses two chemicals: ammonium iron(III) citrate and potassium ferricyanide."
   
   
   
   
   

The Nerine Bowdenii flower (with the common names Spider Lily, Guernsey Lily, Cornish Lily and more) is naturally pink.  With the same process applied, it has the sense of being a blue lily.   There must be 7 or 8 common names for this flower - that's why it is good to know the latin name.  It seems so much more elegant an image with the monochrome colouring of the cyanotype.  What do you think?

Between Christmas and New Year's

Here we are at the holiday between the holidays, starting with Boxing Day.  This has become a secular holiday that seems to have extended into Boxing Week with the advertising that goes with this.  

The tradition started in the UK about 800 years ago. It was the day when the alms box for the poor was opened so that the contents could be distributed to the poor.

In the 1600's we would be servants and tradespeople and would receive gifts today, known as a "Christmas box".  Our Christmas Day would have been busy, waiting on our masters.  This is the day that Good King Wenceslas looked upon the Feast of Stephen.  St. Stephen's Day is celebrated as the 2nd day of Christmas.  The Germans had an original tradition - horses would be ridden around the inside of the church during the St. Stephen's Day service. 

We are into the Twelve Days of Christmas.  This is the twelve day period that starts with Christmas day and ends on Epiphaby (Jan 6th).The 'true love' who gave the gifts was meant to represent God, the true love of the world.  On the "first day", the partridge in a pear tree is Jesus who died on the cross.  The two turtle doves of the "second day", are the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.  The three French hens are faith, hope and love - the three gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Today's image explores the countdown of the 12 days through the language of urban grunge.  

The Blue of Snow

I was in Toronto yesterday and was in the core of the financial district walking in the underground paths along King Street between Yonge and University.  It's a familiar area for me, but at Christmas it takes on the frenzy of crowds shopping.  In the underground shopping areas, there were line-ups outside some stores. As one person left the next could enter.  Everywhere the Christmas decorations and trees were magical and elegant. 

Today's image is a contrast to yesterday's experience. It comes from the Beamer Memorial Park above the escarpment.  This was one of the big snow falls last year where the air was calm so the snow stayed stuck to the trees.

The image is naturally black and white.  When one 'turns' it black and white, there's no difference.  Blue seemed the way to go as it is one of the alternates for Christmas colours.  It is a nice contrast from the traditional red and green. 

 

Blue Lilies - Can there ever be?

I gather the genes aren't in a Lilium lily for there to be blue flowers.  I did this one in Photoshop to see what a blue lily might be like.  This lily was at Lilycrest Gardens, my brother, Brian Bergman's hybridizing field in St. Catharines, Ontario.

Delphinium Days in July

It is a beautiful month for flowers, and Delphiniums are one of the most spectacular for the clear blues in all tones imaginable.  These were at Plantworld, on Eglinton West at Royal York Road, in Toronto.  It is celebrating 125 years this year.