Janet Brien's photos with the keyword: Redstem Storksbill

(+11 insets!) Today is simply gorgeous! It might as well be March 20 because it couldn't be a more classic spring day. Sunny, warm, the rich smells of plants and earth perfuming the air, birds twittering in all the trees. We've filled our bird and suet feeders and the back and forth of the birds to their nests is constant and a great source of enjoyment whenever we look out the back window. We've seen Oregon Juncos, Acorn Woodpeckers, Pewees, California and Spotted Towees, Scrub and Stellar's Jays...still waiting on many types that we commonly see. The neighborhood is still learning about the new food source, at which time the feeders will be very busy all day! The only thing that tells me that spring hasn't truly arrived yet is the lack of spring flowers. I have been creeping all over the meadows, forests and hillside, and so far as I can tell, there are only six species in bloom at this point: Whitlow Spring Grass, Saxifrage, Buttercups, Bird's Eye Speedwell and two new finds: Redstem Storksbill and Spring Sandwort. I can't even include our daffodils because they are still in bud though they may begin to open in the next few days. It is definitely the latest spring in all the years we've lived here—about 15 years now. Saturday Self-Challenge has arrived, and with it, the day's topic: Signs of Spring! I thought about driving around and looking for newborn farm animals but decided to just stay on the property for the most part. I did ride my bike around our rural block yesterday to confirm that it's just too early for most flowers right now, and it's true. I found exactly ONE daffodil in bloom that I was able to photograph. Other than that, the native flora is only beginning to prepare for the yearly extravaganza. I enjoyed looking for different flowers and all of them are harbingers of spring. I didn't find any Buttercups or Saxifrage for my presentation but the flowers I did find were very nice subjects. When I could, I photographed them in bud, though some had glorious blossoms that rivaled flowers ten times their size! Today's main picture is a Redstem Storksbill flower and bud and though the face of this flower is quite beautiful, the back is truly stunning with wonderful hairy and striated, variegated details that shine luminously. The finished image just had to be my main picture! I hope that you enjoy all of the images I've added as insets. What a delightful SSC challenge this was! Pam, I wanted to find a picture on your stream that signified spring, and found this breathtaking and artistic crocus in a bubble with water reflection. It's so pretty and makes me so happy that you have posted these lovely creations for all of us to enjoy and be inspired by! Thank you! I do hope that today is better than the last few...I'm sending hugs your way my dear! :) Explored on 3/17/19, highest placement, #1.

Below every flower's petals are a set of different petals called sepals. Usually green in color, their job is to protect the flower in bud form, and to act as support to the petals when in bloom! Below you will find all my pictures of the lovely, tiny Redstem Storksbill!

A couple of days ago I decided to creep around the meadow next to our house to see if I could find new flowers for my Spring Flower Count and I found FOUR! I was moving along slowly when I first spotted a hyacinth-like stalk and bud cluster...but before I started setting up, I saw a quick movement and stopped to watch a hunting spider race across the ground, over grass, sticks, leaves, and right past...THIS! Holy cow, would you just LOOK at that fancy hair?! :D This tiny beauty is only about 1/2" tall! I would now like all of you to kick me in the shins because I didn't mark the spot where I found this flower, and I've been trying for the past two days to find it again so I can photograph it as it opens! *cries a river of tears* It will be dried up and brown by the time I find out where it was! Let that be a lesson to me, and OW, quit kicking! :D

[best appreciated at full size against black] Here's another tiny beauty that I discovered while nosing around in the meadow, looking for new flowers. This one was hiding under some grass, so I carefully exposed it so I could take its portrait for all of you to enjoy! :) Do you remember the picture I posted of the spiral topped seed on the moss? I found out that it's a Redstem Storksbill seed!!! Isn't that cool?! :) I never expect to find that out...I have a hard enough time trying to figure out what kind of flowers I've photographed!! :D If you would like to know more about this flower, there's a nice page here: www.fireflyforest.com/flowers/1077/erodium-cicutarium-red... This image was taken in March, 2012.

Our property is simply covered with these flowers! Everywhere I go, pretty Redstem Stork's Bill blossoms are smiling up at me! Here is a close-up of a pair of flower's pistils. They were close enough together that I was able to get just their pistils in focus with the rest of the blossoms beginning to fade to blur. Controlling my focus is always an interesting challenge to me and it was really fun trying to get this picture! I hope you like it! :) Thanks to all of you who have visited and have left comments and favorites! I try to go to all of your pages within a day or two and is a highlight for me to see your beautiful photography! :)

I got this picture last Sunday next to a parking lot where Steve and I parked for a bike ride. This flower was growing in a gravely area between the parking lot and some train tracks, and though the area looked desolate, there were many pretty things to find for those who looked closely! :) The group of riders was very surprised that I found anything interesting at all! The Redstem Storksbill gets its name from its bright red stem, and from the shape of its seed pods, which look like a stork's bill! (I'll be sure to post pictures of these when they appear on our property!) This pretty little blossom is common in many area of the world, and is one of those opportunistic beauties which grows between the cracks in cement! :)