That’s just like hydrangeas, Badtux, – the pH of the soil determines whether they will be pink or blue.
This is when the stamen hairs of a blue spiderwort changes to pink, and just the hairs. The petals stay blue, but it has a hairy pink center.
According to the info on blue that Hipparchia provided, most blue flowers need alkaline soil to produce the color.
]]>-Badtux the Flowery Penguin
]]>this was definitely a state trooper [and it was many years ago]. they may have called out reinforcements, iirc the icy conditions were worse than expected, or a more fierce storm than expected was up ahead, or something along those lines.
]]>The Blue Ridge was the “I-95” of not that many years ago. It was the fastest way to go from the Northeast to the Gulf Coast. I was a very small passenger in a ’36 Ford the first time I traveled it.
Give the troopers a break, guys – someone has to think for those who won’t. If people would make rational decisions we wouldn’t have Republicans.
Catherine takes wonderful pictures, Steve, but I liked her less artistic “Nature” shots. I appreciate the “interesting” photos which remind me of Georgia O’Keefe, but right now I want regular old flowers. I’ll be ready for the others in the fall.
]]>Hipparchia, it was about three years ago that the old gristmill on the Parkway, Mabry Mill, became completely iced over. The ice was cascading over the waterwheel and the trestles (about 15 feet high) had ice formations dripping all the way to the ground. The whole thing looked like some huge and strange ice sculpture. I took some photos, but I’ve misplaced the CD. If I come across them, I’ll post’em. It was a sight.
Oh yeah, those highway patrol people can be real party poopers. Right, Bryan? π
Although, it seems likely it was a Park Ranger. They don’t want you to have too much fun, either.
]]>the fluffy black dog is already complaining about the heat here, and he would love to come join you in the snow!
the blue ridge parkway is one of my favorite places to drive. speaking of snow, one of the family vacations was renting a cabin in the mountains one christmas, and we took a drive on the parkway, ooh-ing and ah-ing at the icicles hanging from everything and the blankets of snow on the trees, the rocks, the guard rails π … then the state highway patrol came along and made everyone leave because of the ice on the road.
]]>Oh Steve, I wish you could, too. If you ever get up to the Virginia mountains, the Blue Ridge Parkway has fabulous overlooks that are a balm to the soul, and in addition are very level and easily accessed. Especially Rocky Knob which is my all-time favorite. We don’t have many people on the Parkway anymore (economy?) unless there’s a local festival, so it’s almost like taking a hike by yourself.
Bryan, just checked and the Spiderwort in our area blooms from late May to July, so it looks like I have a while to go. You guys in the southerly climes can help us northerly folks out and let us know if you see any pink. π I’ll be ordering my sunflowers today from Southern Exposure, but they don’t have Spiderwort, so I need to search a source for that. I’d like to cover a small hill in the back with them. I’ve always been partial to blue flowers too, probably because they are so scarce.
Hipparchia, your photos are just gorgeous. You have spring in full bloom there, and I am so jealous, and I am SOOOO tired of winter. We got a few blooms and then had an inch of snow a couple of days ago and killed them all. Rats.
]]>I hope you and *your better half* are well and happy Steve. π
The flower was a pleasant surprise h, and good timing. Ta very much! π ( I think I’m getting a bit soppy in my middle age!) π π
I’ve wondered several times Bryan why it is that blue is rare in the flora World. It’s more common in the Worlds of the avian & the fish. Probably has to do with the predominance of Chlorophyll I guess. π
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