Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Ruby Tuesday: Rose of Sharon

Today's ruby red is more of a dark burgandy or red wine color from the flowers on my Rose of Sharon bushes. They are one of my all time favorites to photograph. The buds start out very tight before bursting open to reveal just a hint of what's to come. It always amazes me that the tightly wound bloom is such a dark rich color.
As the flower opens more and more it reveals the deep burgandy in the center and the lighter gentle pinks of the outer part of the petal. As the bloom nears its end the veins in the petals become more prominent and take on the look of gauze. The ants love the flowers too as you can see by that tiny little fellow on the outer edge of the petal in the foreground.

Downloading photos often brings surprises as this particular image did for me. Doesn't that look like a little hand perhaps indicating to the ants and bees - 'I want you to stay away!' Or, maybe there's a little Smurf living in there. :)

Posted for Ruby Tuesday.

18 comments:

Unknown said...

Beautiful from bud to bloom! Didn't know that there actually was a Rose of Sharon!

George said...

This is a beautiful photo sequence, complete with the little hand. I doubt that a Smurf is living in the blossom, however.

Francisca said...

What a beautiful flower, the Rose of Sharon. Since I don't think I've ever seen one, it nice to see the sequence.

Linky tool is not up, so here is my Ruby Tuesday.

Magical Mystical Teacher said...

Once upon a time, and a long time ago it was, I had a Rose of Sharon blooming outside my back door. Thank you for the memories!

SEEING RED

A man who was out of his head
Was claiming he always saw red.
He saw it all day,
At work and at play,
And saw it at night while in bed.


© 2011 by Magical Mystical Teacher

Teleférico rojo

Kim, USA said...

I am very intrigue of this Rose of Sharon it looks like hibiscus and not a rose. I would visit our local nursery store to see if they have like this, it is very pretty!

Red Barn

Dianne said...

I love flowers right before they're about to open
something so hopeful about them
lovely photos

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Absolutely gorgeous flower, Carletta. That little hand is telling you to go away and leave them alone!!!!! ha ha
Hugs,
Betsy

Chubskulit Rose said...

Lovely captures carleta. I always thought that these flowers are hibiscus too hahaha.

Pooch said...

Rose of Sharon is a favorite--enjoyed your lovely pix.
:)

Rose said...

Beautiful, Carletta!

Tatjana Parkacheva said...

Very nice photos.

Regards!

Gemma Wiseman said...

This is so like the petal textures of a hibiscus and yet the "folds" are not quite so tight! Love the colou8r changes!

kayerj said...

how pretty--my grandma used to grow these.

JunieRose2005 said...

Very pretty flowers! I have just one color of them but saw several others recently in Alabama! Your photos are very nice!

Neal said...

Lovely Carletta. I'm sure glad I didn't forget to look at your blog today. I just love the tunnel picture below this blog.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Ha -- it really is pointing out -- what a neat downloading surprise!

Those are gorgeous flowers and great to get them at the different stages.

Jama said...

Gorgeous! I would have thought they are the hibiscus!

Stephany said...

LOL! It does look like a Smurf hand! Betsy's comment made me laugh too. I had a Rose of Sharon when I lived in Florida but it was lavender. This pink and burgundy is gorgeous!