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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Indian Blanket/Firewheel
Gaillardia pulchella (Asteraceae)
A hardy, drought tolerant annual native to the central United States. Easily established from seed, it forms dense colonies of brilliant red flowers with yellow rims. The flower diameter is slightly smaller than its perennial cousin Gaillardia aristata. An excellent variety of coastal beach-front property or sand dune reclamation sites. Thrives in heat and full sun in well drained soils. {source: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/Wildseed/indianblanket.html}
The Kiowa believed the flowers brought good luck. AND Bees area also considered good luck: A bee landing on someone's hand is believed to foretell money to come, while if the bee settles on someone's head it means that person will rise to greatness.
Aboard this flower is a bee: Honeybee Apis mellifera
I was thrilled to see this bee (and hope it's not Africanized, and indeed a honeybee. To accurately determine which is which, Texas A&M admits it need more than one bee to sample because the two species are so similar.
I'm sure you've heard in the news that the bee population is dwindling across 27 states in the US and parts of Canada and even Europe. A quarter of U.S. honeybees are already dead from a mysterious problem known as "colony collapse disorder," more are dying, and scientists don't know why.
Pulitzer Prize-winning insect biologist E.O. Wilson of Harvard said the honeybee is nature's "workhorse -- and we took it for granted." |
iris, jmirah, Ken52 has marked this note useful
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- jmirah
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 436 W: 5 N: 901]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(3574) - [2007-05-09 7:44]
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Nice focus and detail...It looks as though the bee is looking at you...Africanized bees are only a danger because they travel in swarms...Watch out for large masses of bees in trees, bushes or too many flying around...Another genetic engineering project gone wrong. The flower that most populates the dunes is the Black-Eyed Susan...
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- iris
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 368 W: 39 N: 654]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif)
(2053) - [2007-05-09 8:44]
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Wonderful concept ...and a nice dedication to the dwindling population of Bees, Angelina....
The flower's Indian connection is noticeable and interesting!--The Indian Blanket is it?The Fire Wheel too is quite appropriate..This also looks like the Zenia around here.
I forgot to add that the PoV u have here is brilliant..I like the old fading flower in the far BG,....and as always ur notes with the trivia is informative and interesting.
TFS & Cheers
P.S1:BTW, what's the Good Luck Charm connection?
P.S2: Now that I know the connection.....I am going to make sure the next bee i see is given a seat on my hand and my head!!!!lolzzzz...
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- Nilson
(2095)
- [2007-05-09 11:41]
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Uma magnifica flor com uma encantada abelha muito bom,uma captura exelente meus parabéns.
Nilson
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- Ken52
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 661 W: 98 N: 1202]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(4017) - [2007-05-09 14:42]
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Aah, so this is Indian Blanket/Firewheel. I think this is the same flower as the one pictured with my Orange Sulphur, except that yours is a healthier, fuller flower. Beautiful colors, excellent sharpness, and the highly detailed bee is a bonus.
