The Flickr Floweringseason Image Generatr

I actually wanted to photograph the flowers when this titmouse presented itself perfectly in my composition.

Thank you for all your visits, favs and nice comments.

Thank you for your visits, favs and nice comments and
HAPPY EASTER!

Wenn man sich das Bild dieser blühenden und erblühenden Ringlotten-Bäume in unserem Garten so ansieht, fällt auf, dass zwar die einzelnen Blüten klar strukturiert sind, das Ganze aber wirr, ungeordnet, einfach chaotisch aussieht. Dass Bienen, Hummeln und Schmetterlinge sich da orientieren können, erscheint mir wie ein Wunder.

If you look at the picture of these flowering and blossoming ringlet trees in our garden, you notice that although the individual flowers are clearly structured, the whole thing looks confused, disorganised, simply chaotic. The fact that bees, bumblebees and butterflies can find their way around seems like a miracle to me.

Vibrant Flor del príncipe flowers thrive in Spains green landscape, showcasing their delicate pink petals under clear skies.

Deze foto is door mijn nicht Marijke gemaakt.

Sigma 105mm Macro.

Davidia Involucrata
Dove-Tree / Handkerchief Tree / Pocket Handkerchief Tree / Ghost Tree

Baden-Baden, Lichtental Alley, near the Museum Frieder Burda during flowering season in early May.

Rhododendron; Baden-Baden, Lichtental Alley; Leaves and flowers during the flowering season in May.

start of the flowering season for samphire. Sept 11, 2022

Nicht nur das Covid19- bzw. Corona-Virus sorgt für Ausnahmezustände und eine "neue Normalität" danach. Schon seit mehreren Jahren ist auch als Konsequenz des laufenden Klimawandels eine "neue Normalität" eingetreten, die sich zum Beispiel darin zeigt, daß Schneefall und Frost während der Blütezeit im April nun jedes Jahr zu beobachten ist, während die Blütezeit im April vor 20, 30 Jahren nur alle 4-5 Jahre mit Schneefall und Frost konfrontiert war.

It is not only the Covid19 or Corona virus that causes states of emergency and a "new normality" thereafter. For several years now, a "new normality" has also occurred as a consequence of ongoing climate change, which can be seen, for example, in the fact that snowfall and frost during the April flowering season can now be observed every year, whereas 20, 30 years ago the April flowering season was only confronted with snowfall and frost every 4-5 years.

Blooming male willow catkins at the lakefront of the Little Brombachsee near the village of Langlau, Franconia (Bavaria)

This picture was taken just a few days before the restrictions to go out became effective in Bavaria. Our three-person family took the chance to go and get some fresh air, while at the same time trying to body-swerve all other people. Strange times of social distancing.

I also took the chance to play around a bit with my new camera and come to know it better. Usually macro pictures of plants or blossoms are not my cup of tea. I love this camera, but I guess that sooner or later I will need a different lens. A Tamron 18-400mm would be the lens of my choice, as I am seeking a better zoom. Well, at home there is not much to photograph anyway.

Some background information:

Willows, also called sallows and osiers, form the genus Salix, a genus of around 400 species of deciduous trees and shrubs. They are found primarily on moist soils in cold and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Most species are known as willow, but some narrow-leaved shrub species are called osier, and some broader-leaved species are referred to as sallow.

Willows all have abundant watery bark sap, which is heavily charged with salicin, soft, usually pliant, tough wood, slender branches, and large, fibrous, often stoloniferous roots. The roots are remarkable for their toughness, size, and tenacity to live, and roots readily sprout from aerial parts of the plant. The leaves are typically elongated, but may also be round to oval, frequently with serrated edges. Most species are deciduous.

Willows are dioecious, with male and female flowers appearing as catkins on separate plants. The catkins are produced early in the spring, often before the leaves. The pistillate (female) flowers are without calyx or corolla, and consist of a single ovary accompanied by a small, flat nectar gland and inserted on the base of a scale which is likewise borne on the rachis of a catkin. The ovary is one-celled, the style two-lobed, and the ovules numerous.

The staminate (male) flowers are also without either calyx with corolla. They consist simply of stamens, varying in number from two to ten, accompanied by a nectariferous gland and inserted on the base of a scale which is itself borne on the rachis of a drooping raceme called a catkin, or ament. This scale is square, entire, and very hairy. The anthers are rose-colored in the bud, but orange or purple after the flower opens.

Willows do have both a medicinal and a manufacturing value. The leaves and bark of the willow tree have been mentioned in ancient texts from Assyria, Sumer and Egyptas a remedy for aches and fever. In Ancient Greece the physician Hippocrates wrote about its medicinal properties in the fifth century BC. The salicin which can be found in the willow trees is metabolized into salicylic acid in the human body, and is a precursor of aspirin.

In 1897, the German chemist Felix Hoffmann created a synthetically altered version of salicin (in his case derived from the Spiraea plant), which caused less digestive upset than pure salicylic acid. The new drug, formally acetylsalicylic acid, was named Aspirin by Hoffmann's employer Bayer AG. This gave rise to the hugely important class of drugs known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

The manufacturing use of willows finds its expression in basic crafts. Baskets, fish traps, wattle fences and wattle and daub house walls, were often woven from willows and one of the forms of the Welsh coracle boat traditionally also uses willow in the framework. Thin or split willow rods can be woven into wicker, which also has a long history.

Willow wood is likewise used in the manufacture of boxes, brooms, cricket bats, cradle boards, dolls, flutes, poles, sweat lodges, toys, turnery, tool handles, veneer, wands and whistles. In addition, tannin, fibre, paper, rope and string can be produced from willow wood as well. In Germany, branches of catkins are often cut off from the willows at Easter (before the catkins open up) and decorated at home with blown out Easter eggs.

The Little Brombachsee and its connected lakes Huge Brombachsee and Igelsbachsee make up an artificial reservoir that belongs to the so called Franconian Lakeland. It serves the water regulation, but because of its great recreation offer it's also a favoured recreational area for the residents of the city of Nuernberg as well as a popular tourist destination for holidaymakers from farer away.

Although the three lakes Huge Brombachsee, Little Brombachsee and Igelsbachsee were flooded just about 20 years ago they fit harmoniously in the hilly and forest countryside. Hence visitors get the impression that they have always been there. The lakes offer the guests numerous activities like swimming, other aquatic sports, cycling and hiking.

Together with the Altmuehlsee, the Rothsee, the Hahnenkammsee and the Dennenloher See, the Huge Brombachsee, the Little Brombachsee and the Igelsbachsee form the Franconian Lake District. In size and infrastructure it is equal to the Upper Bavarian Lake District.

A Happy Easter 2020 to all of you! Despite social distancing, I wish you some relaxing days together with your families!

Although La Palma is considered like all Canary Islands as islands of eternal spring. In the second half of April this year, we were able to experience the flowering season particularly beautifully, like here in fallow meadows or fields east of El Paso. In the background very small the chapel "Ermita Virgen del Pino" and the "Cumbrecita".

La Palma gilt zwar wie alle kanarischen Inseln als Inseln des ewigen Frühlings. In der zweiten Aprilhälfte diesen Jahres konnten wir die Blütezeit besonders schön erleben, wie hier in brach liegenden Wiesen oder Feldern östlich von El Paso. Im Hintergrund ganz klein die Kapelle "Ermita Virgen del Pino" und die Cumbrecita.

Danke für deinen Besuch! Thanks for visiting!
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Die Blütezeit des Almrausch hat am Zirbitzkogel seit ein paar Tagen begonnen. Hier ein Foto vom Abstieg mit Blick zum Grossen Winterleitensee.

The flowering season of the alpine roses has started just a few days ago. Here a photo taken at our descent with a view to the alpine lake Grosser Winterleitensee.