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Cowslip (Primula veris)


Cowslip (Primula veris)
Photo Information
Copyright: Niek Bouwen (SunToucher) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2227 W: 199 N: 2484] (9078)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-04-14
Categories: Flowers
Camera: Canon EOS 350D, Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 EX DG Macro, Tiffen 82mm UV
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/125 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: Limburg 2007
Theme(s): Herbs used in medicine [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-05-27 10:05
Viewed: 741
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I thought I posted another photo from the field of Cowslips I found during my four day trip in Limburg.

Some information from www.botanical.com on the plant.

The origin of Cowslip is obscure: it has been suggested that it is a corruption of 'Cow's Leek,' leek being derived from the Anglo-Saxon word leac, meaning a plant (comp. Houseleek).

In old Herbals we find the plant called Herb Peter and Key Flower, the pendent flowers suggesting a bunch of keys, the emblem of St. Peter, the idea having descended from old pagan times, for in Norse mythology the flower was dedicated to Frcya, the Key Virgin, and was thought to admit to her treasure palace. In northern Europe the idea of dedication to the goddess was transferred with the change of religion, and it became dedicated to the Virgin Mary, so we find it called 'Our Lady's Keys' and 'Key of Heaven,' and 'Keyflower' remains still the most usual name.

The flowers have a very distinctive and fresh fragrance and somewhat narcotic juices, which have given rise to their use in making the fermented liquor called Cowslip Wine, which had formerly a great and deserved reputation and is still largely drunk in country parts, being much produced in the Midlands. It is made from the 'peeps,' i.e. the yellow petal rings, in the following way: A gallon of 'peeps' with 4 lb. of lump sugar and the rind of 3 lemons is added to a gallon of cold spring water. A cup of fresh yeast is then included and the liquor stirred every day for a week. It is then put into a barrel with the juice of the lemons and left to 'work.' When 'quiet,' it is corked down for eight or nine months and finally bottled. The wine should be perfectly clear and of a pale yellow colour and has almost the value of a liqueur. In certain children's ailments, Cowslip Wine, given in small doses as a medicine, is particularly beneficial.

Young Cowslip leaves were at one time eaten in country salads and mixed with other herbs to stuff meat, whilst the flowers were made into a delicate conserve. Cowslip salad from the petals, with white sugar, is said to make an excellent and refreshing dish.

Children delight in making Cowslip Balls, or 'tosties,' from the flowers. The umbels are picked off close to the top of the main flowerstalk and about fifty to sixty are hung across a string which may be stretched for convenience between the backs of two chairs. The flowers are then pressed carefully together and the string tied tightly so as to collect them into a ball. Care must be taken to choose only such heads or umbels in which all the flowers are open, as otherwise the surface of the ball will be uneven.

This is a hand held shot, where I was lying on the ground. The light was to my benefit, as it was soft morning light. The photo is converted from RAW to JPEG. I've only adjusted the levels. USM, frame and resize are obvious.
XOTAELE, SkyF, jmp, dew77, horia, jhm, SelenE, Jamesp, pablominto, hester has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hola Niek.
Una preciosa planta ilustrada con una nota bastante útil.
Bellos colores y presentación muy delicada.
Saludos y tfs, JL.

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2007-05-27 10:11]

Hi Niek,
a wonderful flower composition, the DOF works very well and underlines the tenderness of this flower.
The colors and details are lovely.
TFS..Sky

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1836 W: 94 N: 2340] (8406)
  • [2007-05-27 14:43]

Hi Niek,
What a beautiful and small flower! Very nice presentation with excellent, soft light, the best dof to show the first on focus and the rest as part of the background. Very nice!
TFS, José M.

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2007-05-27 14:50]

Hello Niek,
Very nice flowers.Well seen and composed.POV,colors,exposure and DOF you managed are wonderful.Excellent work!
TFS.:-)

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2124 W: 222 N: 3909] (12977)
  • [2007-05-27 15:22]

Hi Niek

Aaaa...another macro... :))))
And what a terrific one it is!
The low-angled POV really made the difference here and together with your exceptional shallow DOF made sure that these little beauties will stand out so well here.
Charming colors and spot-on exopsure that complete this delicate composition.

Bravo and TFS
Horia

Nice flower, Neik! The light is soft (Dutch weather?), and I like the vertical composition a lot. Good colors, and I like the blurred bg. I'm not sure of the crop on the right, though -- I wish that third plant was "complete."
Mike

  • Great 
  • jhm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 660 W: 0 N: 178] (624)
  • [2007-05-28 3:11]

Hallo Niek,

Een focus met een punts gebruik, dit geeft altijd een mooi resultaat, en gele bloemen zijn steeds een mooi onderwerp omte fotograferen. Bedankt.

Groeten,
John

Greetings Niek.
Very beautiful. Great sharpness and DOF. Beautiful colour and composition. Well done.
Best regards, Steve.

Hi Niek ,
very nice shot from this beautiful flower.
great composition and nice sharpness.
thanks for sharing
Regards
Saeed

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1296 W: 0 N: 5060] (15082)
  • [2007-05-31 3:07]

Hi Niek

Great shot with good colours and POV. The BG helps bring out the form and colour of the plant.

James

Hello Niek,
Lovely details in the focal area, delicate flower is well captured!
Fine colour palette, well framed subject!
Greetings,
Pablo -

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1477 W: 18 N: 3013] (11052)
  • [2007-06-01 14:25]

Hi Niek

I love simple wildflowers and this is a beautiful example. Lovely composition, nice DOF and just beautiful colours

TFS

Karan

Very pretty Niek, the soft green back really accentuate the intricate yellow flower heads all with nice details. Well done. :)

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