On Watch – The Hidden Beauty of a Day Lily

Macro Photograph of Yellow Daylily

On Watch @ 2010 Bo Mackison

Macro-photograph of a yellow daylily, photographed at Chicago Botanic Gardens.

Little periscopes, hmm? Wonder what they see…

Red Daylily – A Photo Visit in My Garden

Daylily in Garden
Red Daylily © 2010 Bo Mackison

I visit many botanical gardens.

I love botanical gardens, especially the ones where winding, almost secret paths lead from area to area. One minute I’ll be wandering in a rose garden, the next, in an alpine conifer garden, then a trip across a bridge brings me into the magical world of a Japanese Garden. I love all those grand sights, the vistas, the fragrance only a million roses in one garden can offer. But I am one of the lucky ones. I don’t have to go to a garden across town or across the state to get my flower fix for the day.

There are gardens surrounding my home that I lovingly tend.

I don’t live in the country, though a country home has been on my life list for decades. I don’t think it’s going to happen. We are too content in our home on the edge of the city. And after living here for nearly 25 years, the barren lot we purchased has been lovingly transformed into a luscious green space. The trees we planted back then now reach way beyond our roof. The gardens we planted with little bits of plants now mound high in the summer with bouquets of perennials. The rock garden is well established, as is the hosta garden. I have my little space of country here on the edge of the city.

I love tending my flower gardens, but I don’t take photographs as often as I might.

So for the next week or so I will offer a few photographs of my own gardens along with my favorite visiting garden spots.

Today’s flower is the lovely day lily, from a plant I transplanted from my grandfather’s garden in western Illinois more than 20 years ago.

Yellow Lily – A Photo Visit in My Garden

Yellow Lily at Chicago Botanic Garden

Yellow Lily © 2010 Bo Mackison

It’s a cloudy day in Wisconsin, a good day to share this bright bit of yellow – a day lily photographed at the Chicago Botanic Gardens this past weekend.

I sooooo wanted to call this photograph “Lello Lily” in honor of my youngest who pronounced the word ‘yellow’ by substituting ‘l’ for the ‘y’ — and did so long after she could easily say the word ‘yellow’ correctly. She simply loved the way it sounded. Often another family member would call something ‘lello’ also — it always brought on the giggles.

She will so love the sound of these two words combined — ‘Lello Lilly’.

Washington Tidal Pool

Anemone in Washington State Tidal Pool

Green Sea Anemone © 2010 Bo Mackison

Tidal pool discoveries from our visit to Tongue Point on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington.

While we were climbing on the slippery, blue-mussel and seaweed mixture that is exposed on the shoreline rocks at low tide, we did see quite a few tidal pools. No star fish or hermit crabs or sand dollars, but there was quite a lot of floating yellow rockweed in the pools of water.

We also saw three pools that had green sea anemones. Even though they look like underwater flowers, they are animals. As prey moves past the anemone, it shoots a tentacle or two out from it’s hidden place and paralyzes its prey, typically a small fish or crustacean, with a deadly sting. Pretty, but not such pretty manners — if you’re a sculpin swimming by.

Tongue Point Splash

Tongue Point on Olympic Peninsula

Tongue Point Splash © 2010 Bo Mackison

When we were traveling the Pacific Northwest, we walked out on Tongue Point just south of Point Crescent, Washington during low tide and checked out the tidal pools. We saw a bit of activity – a few purple and green anemones, some sea urchins. I was hoping to see a star fish or two, but that didn’t happen.

The shore at low tide was covered with mussels, sea kelp and seaweed, all slippery stuff. I wielded a hiking stick in one hand and my camera attached to a monopod in the other, and just barely managed to stay afoot. A few times we were splashed by incoming waves as the tide started rising — just added to the sense of adventure! At one point we were laughing so hard, I wondered if we’d get back up the cliff at the appointed time. Yep, we did.

I took only one lens, so my photographs of the tidal pools themselves are seriously lacking, but the scenery was still spectacular.

And it really was great fun. I’d go exploring at low tide if ever given the chance again. What amazing life barely under the sea!