Janet Brien's photos with the keyword: Verbascum blattaria

I was out after the rain stopped the other day and noticed this perfect blossom that was covered with droplets. I hoped that it would make a pretty picture, and I was right! :) I added some texturing to the background and some vignetting to add a bit more interest. :) Explored on November 18, 2013. Highest placement, page 8...

2 more pictures above in notes! I know this flower appears to be white, but it is actually a very light pink in color. I took this picture after this blossom has begun to fade and its color has become lighter than when it first opened up. I was delighted to find this flower, and in fact I saw two today! They are very rare on our property, as we mostly have the yellow variety. I especially love this color, and I'm so happy that this picture turned out well because I've only seen this flower once before today, and my pictures didn't turn out! (I added a bit of texture in the background) From Wiki: Moth mullein (Verbascum blattaria) is a species of flowering biennial weed belonging to the Scrophulariacea (Figwort) family. An invasive species native to Eurasia and North Africa, it has naturalized in the United States and most of Canada since its introduction. It has been declared a noxious weed by the state of Colorado. Verbascum blattaria is more commonly referred to as the “moth mullein”. It is so named because of the resemblance of its flowers' stamen to that of a moth’s antennae. This is not to be confused with the more popular and widely known “common mullein” (Verbascum thapsus), a close relative of V. blattari.

Here you can see what I mean about the difference between the petals and the pistils! Also, the pistils stick out quite a distance from the petals, which I find very interesting too.

6 pictures above in notes! :) Last year I was working on a project called, "The Flowers of Spring & Summer", where I attempted to take pictures of every species of flower that grows on our property. I finally had to abandon this when I started my 365 Project, but I learned so much about what grows here! I'll be continuing with it after I complete my 365! :) This is a close-up of a Moth Mullein, which was the 158th flower of my project. I am crazy about the pistils of this flower which are so dramatic next to their fairly plain petals. Last year I took an extensive series of pictures, so I'm going to share just a couple from today and if you take a look in the picture above, you'll see many clickable inset images! ENJOY! Here is information I wrote about this flower last year: Part of Moth Mullen's latin name is "Verbascum" which appropriately means "beard", and though this flower is closed at night, thus not attracting moths, their stamens suggest the shape of a moth's antennae. These flowers are native to Eurasia and North Africa and considered an invasive weed in the United States and Canada. If you would like to know more about this flower, Wiki has a page here: Wiki: Moth Mullein (Verbascum blattaria) Explored on August 14, 2013. Highest placement, page 3...

Here you can see that they grow on a tall stalk!

You can see the resin droplets clearly as well as the pistils!

I have trouble photographing flower stalks because in order to take a picture of the whole thing you will lose most of the detail that I love so much. Yet, if you take a picture of just one blossom, you aren't able to see how impressive the flowers are as they create a tower of beauty! This particular flower also has amazing pistils and stamens, so I have several views showing the beautiful details! I had a hard time deciding which should be the main image, but I love seeing the jewel-like, sticky resin droplets adorning the back of the blossoms, sepal and stem! Part of Moth Mullen's latin name is "Verbascum" which appropriately means "beard", and though this flower is closed at night, thus not attracting moths, their stamens suggest the shape of a moth's antennae. These flowers are native to Eurasia and North Africa and considered an invasive weed in the United States and Canada. If you would like to know more about this flower, Wiki has a page here: Wiki: Moth Mullein (Verbascum blattaria)

Here is a bud just about to open!

Look at all those droplets, even on the petals! STICKY STICKY STICKY!!! And beautiful too, aren't they? :)