Flower Power Friday Featuring....The Oriental Lily

This week we are featuring the beautiful

Stargazer Lily also known as the Oriental Lily

 

 

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This week I'm doing something alittle different.  Since I wanted to introduce a new Photo Pendant "The Monarch on the Oriental Lily."  I thought this would be a great opportunity to feature the beautiful Oriental Lily.

 

Oriental Lilies are grown from bulbs which are planted in the spring or fall.  You can plant them in large containers, but from my experience it is best to plant them in the garden.  Their flowers and leaves prefer full sun with their roots being shaded.   They also enjoy well drained soil. I really enjoy growing lilies of all kinds.  I also have Asiatic Lilies which come in a large assortment of colors.  Lilies require little maintenance and  they are sooooo beautiful too!!!  Oriental lilies are very fragrant and both Oriental and Asiatic lilies look great in floral arrangements. 
I have come across one major problem with them and that is the red lily leaf beetle.  These little bright red beetles will eat up your lilies in no time flat!  You have to catch them early in the season.  I mean just when you see the lilies just poking through the soil start looking for them and SQUASH them.  That is the best way to do it.  Although there are other alternatives.  They multiply quickly too.  When the lilies start to leaf out look under the leaves for small yellowish/orange clusters of eggs and squash them too.  If you get them early you will be able to enjoy your beautiful lilies all season long.



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I've create this beautiful photo pendant of the Monarch on the Oriental Lily which is a miniature version of the one below that is under a glass dome placed into a antique silver square beaded pendant.

(click on the image to view large or purchase)

  

Quote of the week

Renew your passions daily.

                                     ~Terri Guillemets

                         

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Have a fabulous weekend!

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Monarch and Their Relatives

 

 

Happy Monday!

Last Monday I had mentioned that I was rearranging my work/office space and so far it is working out fine.

This Monday I have 3 new photographs that I have added to both my Etsy shop and Fine Art America.

 

 

Common Crow Euploea core

 

The beautiful butterfly above is known as the Common Crow.  Who would name such a beautiful butterfly such a name?  Some interesting facts about the Common Crow also known as the Oleander Butterfly.  They're related to the Monarch in that they have similar body types and feed on Milkweed and the Oleander plant which both have a toxin which the caterpillar ingests to protect it from predators as a caterpillar and as an adult butterfly.  The Common Crow is found in Australia,  South Asia and India.

 

I photographed the Common Crow at the Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory in South Deerfield, Massachusetts.  For the past couple of years on my way to Connecticut I stop by and do some photographing and to just enjoy the quiet and beauty of these magnificent butterflies.  The Monarchs I photographed in my gardens.

 

Monarch Danaus plexippus

I've been playing around with some new techniques and I wanted to get your opinion on which photograph you like better.  The process with the above Monarch is using French Kiss textures to soften and give the photograph a more pastel feel.  Where the Monarch below is what I like to call a traditional photograph with some minor adjustments.

I have to say that I'm kinda in between, I love the softness of the above Monarch, but I love the bright boldness of the Monarch below.

Monarch Danaus plexippus

 



I guess it is a matter of preference.  The softer Monarch photograph would be great in a little girl's room or nursery.  Would even look great in a bathroom as would the bolder Monarch.  Well needless to say you can find them both in my Fine Art America and Etsy shops.

Speaking of shops....in the next few days I will be in the process of revamping my shops, mostly adding keywords and description for better SEO. 

 

In case you missed it here is last Friday's "Food Friday"post.

 

Tomorrow is Tuesday Treasuries and there are some great fines!

 

Have a great week!