Tropical Flowers

I love close-ups. This picture was taken outside a business in Branson, Missouri, where there was a small garden area with many of the same color hibiscus. This one was perfect.

Flowers, there was no way to get a clear shot of this vibrant flower. So I decided to use the leaves to frame it, which gives the photo an ethereal feeling and makes the flower stand out.

Less common (in my experience) than the purple varieties, this pink one looked like it was leaning over so everyone could see its golden interior. It's amazing!

The blossoms at 90-degree angles nearly make them look artificial or arranged. But they're real. :-)

The color combination against the multi-colored but muted background and the fullness and perfection of the blossom make this a standout lady's slipper, especially on the rich yellow paper.

The contrast of the blue background against the yellow and magenta of the flowers makes this the most unusual of my orchid photos.

The colors and texture of the leaves and water contrast with the opening blossom. From the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers.

The wood and the background give extra textural elements to this very different orchid.

I love the lighting on this lady's slipper, which is my favorite in the Tropicals category.

Antheriums originated in Central and South America and also grow naturally in Hawaii and Queensland, Australia. They're dramatic and beautiful, and come in white, pink, red, brown and green. It is sometimes known as the Painters Palette due to the petal and spike resembling an artist's palette. The pure white of this flower against the green is gorgeous.

This was part of the Sunday arrangement on a church altar. The red antherium almost looks artificial (but it isn't).

At least I think this is a hibiscus. Not being a botanist, sometimes I'm not too sure! I like the varying shades of yellow and orange.

A former boss gave me this phalaenopsis orchid as a gift a few years ago. He picked a good one. :-)

A spike of vanda orchid blossoms can last 8 weeks or longer and vigorous plants can bloom twice yearly. This was in a display case in dim light. I was thrilled that there is no glare on the photo and it is crisp and clear.

We enjoy flowers that are backlit or lit from the top. This is an excellent example.

An unusual and striking color for a flower, green always draws attention.

Our favorite of all the flowers, this looks like a painting. More than any other picture, I love the composition, combination of colors and textures, and the natural sunlight angle.

The orange, cream and purple together in one flower, along with the different textures, make this one stand out.