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Cypripedum Acaule - White


Cypripedum Acaule - White
Photo Information
Copyright: Francine Malo (NinaM) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 801 W: 3 N: 2100] (6594)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-06-07
Categories: Flowers
Camera: Olympus E-510, 40-150mm 4-5.6
Exposure: f/5.2, 1/200 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-06-20 7:57
Viewed: 474
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Most of you know by now that I really like wildflowers, and this year I have been spoiled withh Spring flowers. I live in a small village, in the mountains, The Laurentians, which are the oldest chain of mountains in the world. The mountains have been shaped by glaciers and are now curved hills, wild and offering space and air to breathe.

Thus, my village is like the last "civilized" village on the road leading up north. There have been mooses passing on the street in front of my house, turning right to the lake, in winter, and crossing the lake. Or a female moose was caught on the road, then shot with something to make her sleep, then carried back to the forest by helicopter. I only saw the helicopter up in the sky, with its moose in a cover. The rest is history, I haven't seen the mooses crossing the lake... but I have seen a bear paw right next to the handrail of the balcony of the house, one spring. So a bear came to my house to find some seeds from the feeders, one spring. I guess it was hungry. Besides that, my contact with wild animals is scarce, except for the little bandits called Raccoons. They come and make it on the balcony and I'll be true, it stinks, it is incredible! I do not want to feed them anymore because of that, I don't like to wipe after them ;-)

I have seen a small grouse on the yard, in winter, some muskrats coming from the lake, otter and other small animals. I still dream of coming face to face with a moose but I guess it's better not to happen!

Now, this is to explain my surrounding and why, at 3 minutes with the car, I can walk the dogs on wooden trails all around the village. Some trails lead very far, miles and miles of trails, even the National Trail up to St-Côme.

This Spring, I walked more to explore into the village of St-Alphonse-Rodriguez where I live and discovered a huge variety of spring flowers growing everywhere. I have seen more Pink Lady's Slippers this Spring than in my whole life, so many of them, it is incredible. So I had to see white ones too, which are the same species but with a variation which is rarer for that plant yet usual enough for me to have seen 2 of them, at different places. I even photographed the seed of a Pink Lady's Slipper, which is a rare thing!

So here's for you the white version of the Pink Lady's Slipper, found in St-Alphonse-Rodriguez in the Sentier d'Émélie trail. Émélie used to be a woman with many children, her husband died or left. So she left Ontario and came to St-Alphonse with the many kids and built many little cottages and bought some land. The grand kids are now exploiting the family business, and one of them is even the mayor of St-Alphonse! I go walk the dog on his land, where he opened some cross-country ski trails where one can also walk or ride a mountain bicycle in the trails, which are in the woods, on a small mountain.

I prefer to go and photograph Pink Lady's Slippers. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Francine

Shot in jpeg, slight light adjustment in Picasa, no crop but resized for TN in Photoshop Elements.

NOTE: Everytime I meet a Lady's Slipper, it is a little miracle for me. It takes up to 10 to 16 years from the seed to bloom a flower. Their presence is remarkable also, one feels as if surrounded with tiny people or fairies.

Here is something found on Internet:

Requires very definite environmental conditions, rarely surviving transplanting to gardens. Root system extends approximately a meter in opposite directions from the plant, and cannot withstand severance in order to transplant.
Germination from seed to flowering plant requires 10-16 years. In the Great Lakes Region, late hard frosts will cut down most scapes, but affect the leaves themselves very little; consequently, few plants bloom in such a year. Following a frost-free blooming season, hundreds of seed pods ripen in the larger colonies.
Pollinated by bumble bee (Bombus) queens (Stoutamire, 1967, 1969).

Or you can go on:http://www.nswildflora.ca/species/Orchidaceae/CypriAcaul/species.html

It is a site from Nova-Scotia with nice pictures. Bye bye!
PeterZ, Argus, oanaotilia, maurydv, nglen, roges, jaycee, Alex99, eqshannon, jpdenk, goldyrs, Noisette, Pitoncle, uleko, ingridshaul has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To goldyrs: RacoonsNinaM 1 06-21 08:12
To Argus: Pink Lady's SlipperNinaM 1 06-20 10:20
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2388 W: 94 N: 5521] (17576)
  • [2009-06-20 8:06]

Hello Francine,
Interesting note. Your environment is so different from mine.
Very beautiful photo in excellent sharpness and details. Great clear light and colours, beautiful contrasting against the dark BG. Excellent POV and composition.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3816 W: 190 N: 11348] (34987)
  • [2009-06-20 8:39]
  • [+]

Hello Francine,
This is great!
A superb close up of white variety of the Pink Lady's Slipper. The sharpness, lighting and contrast with the Bg provide a great capture of this wonderful flower.
Our species of Cypripedium is not common and demands a limey soil. Does this?
Thanks,
Ivan

Hy Francine
A very delicate flower, between the most beautiful flowers in the north hemisfere, in my oppinion. This lady's slipper orchids are a pleasure to meet, considering the fact that those from Europe are quite rare.
Well done portret of this flower.
Regards, Oana

Ciao Francine,
une autre magnifique et incroyable prise de cette orchidée, en Italie il ya la "Pianella (Scarpetta) della Madonna" o "Pianella di Venere" (Sabot de Venus - Cypripedium calceolus), mais depuis longtemps je n'ai pas vue cette superbe fleur, tu habite (comme tu as écrit) un très beau village de montagne, ta photo est très belle avec délicates couleurs et une très bonne netteté.
Merci et félicitations
Je te souhaite une bonne soirée
Amicalement
Maurizio

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2908 W: 34 N: 8625] (32146)
  • [2009-06-20 9:54]

Hi Francine. I must say i enjoy reading your interesting notes. You have taken a fine close up of the White Lady's Slipper , Which has fine detail and natural colours. It looks good against the BG. well done TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • roges Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 598 W: 0 N: 523] (3096)
  • [2009-06-20 11:32]

Hi Francine,

Superb presentation and playing this flower.
Very interesting description of the data provided.
Have a nice weekend,
Adrian

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1978 W: 6 N: 5527] (19673)
  • [2009-06-20 16:22]

Hi Francine,now i know that you like wild flower and you transmit us this love whit beautifuls close-up like that.Impressive sharpness and light and perfects colors! My best compliment,have a nice day,Luciano

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2009-06-20 16:31]

Hi Francine,

Not only have I enjoyed your lovely picture but your notes as well. Your animal and plant life is so different from ours - although bears have been found in swimming pools in town. I have never seen a white Lady's Slipper so I'm so glad you posted this wonderful shot. Colors, details and lighting are excellent. Marvelous composition against the darker background.

Jane

Hello Francine

A true beauty.
This is a lovely capture of this natural work of art.
Excellent sharpness and detail.
Wonderful colour.
If you ever get a chance,visit the Alfred Bog near Alfred Ontario,very close to the Quebec border.The bog is home to many rare orchids and bog plants.
TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3585 W: 143 N: 5669] (18533)
  • [2009-06-20 23:00]

Hi Francine.
You love wild flowers and you picture them with tremendous taste and skill. Terrific close-up which gives perfect idea of a flower beauty. Fantastic details, superb delicate and fine colours, impressive transparency of the image and perfect POV/composition. Well done and my warm greetings.
Alexei.

I saw this yesterday and was way behind but I did bookmark it to come back today.

Yes I know of your love for flowers...and perhaps even for white...otherwise you would not live in four seasons with the winter being so harsh in Quebec...having said that however, I am humbled by your dwelling (having seen images) and also envy many of your fine chances to get excellent images such as this pure one!
Bob

Good you stopped feeding the raccoons, Francine, else they beacome habitual of it, and start expecting it...
And then they get harmed..
The pink version was of course, very beautiful, but I find this even prettier...
Especially in this shot!
Cheers!
Goldy

Hi Francine,

Another excellent image of a beautiful, rare flower, well done! Excellent exposure and detail. I know what you mean, finding Lady's Slippers of any kind is like finding rare treasures. Nowadays, finding them here where I live is an extremely rare experience.

John

bonjour Francine
superbe photo de ce Sabot de la Vierge, la fleur est superbement présentée avec au beau point de vue, on voit souvent les roses, rarement les blanches
les couleurs et la netteté sont excellent
Passe une bonne nuit
Jacqueline

Bonjour Francine,
Remarquable macro valorisant bien le sujet par l'appréciation de la finesse de ses détails ; merci pour le partage.
A bientôt sur TN pour de nouvelles aventures.
Gérard

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2992 W: 162 N: 950] (2789)
  • [2009-08-15 9:17]

Hello Francine,
Looking back at your gallery I found this beautiful Cypripedium orchid!! I've never seen this before and your capture is brilliant showing it very clearly against a beautiful background. Excellent sharpness and lovely colours too.
Many thanks and cheers, Ulla

Dear Francine,
you are living in a beautiful part of Canada, and I am ever so envious of your find in the wilds.

I am - like probably every nature lover - enamored with orchids. The only one growing in this part of the world (NE of South Africa) is Ansellia gigantea - and a poor relative of a Lady's slipper (both in looks and name), due to the hot dry, climate of the Lowveld.

Your capture of this beautiful flower is so perfect in every way - it makes me think - you must have ended up with a wet bottom and muddy elbows to achieve this angle...

I like the natural colours in particular! I am afraid many member's good work is ruined (in my opinion)by photoshopping it, resulting in an image, which has little resemblance with the actual plant/animal.

A beautiful flower, beautifully presented!

I just wished some more of the 456 viewers had taken the time to tell you their appreciation.
Have a nice week-end
warm regards to cold Quebec
Ingrid

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