Janet Brien's photos with the keyword: fluff

As kids, a favorite thing we all used to do was finding dandelion seed heads, making a wish, and blowing the seeds off into with wind. Now that we are adults, have you ever stopped to take a close look at these? Such delicate details, such a perfect design for floating on the wind to far-flung destinations. Such an elegant fom. And, as you can see here, just a pair of seed "parachutes" left on a seedhead gives you a chance to see that the fluffy ball to the right is made up of about 100 individual seeds, which are connected to their wind-catching parachutes. Be sure to click on this image to get a bigger view! :)

Using a macro lens reveals a fascinating new perspective, and will often surprise you with these fresh views. How common, boring and ugly dandilions are...to most people, anyway. Detested, yanked out, and scorned, these enemies to the lawn perfectionist are actually quite beautiful, when seen through a macro lens. I quickly fell in love with these flowers, and all others which make these seedheads of parachutes. This was a picture I took in May of 2012, to show how exquisitely perfect these lovely seedheads truly are. Explored on January 10, 2012. Highest placement, #10.

This morning as Steve and I were waiting for riders to arrive, I spent every moment taking pictures! I saw this dandelion head and thought, "Oh heck, I'll give it another try." I always see such AMAZING pictures of these seed heads but I never seem to capture the magic I've been hoping for. Maybe I got lucky today...it is by far my best attempt yet! :) By the way, I didn't do any clarity on this image at all, only a very minor Levels alteration, cropping, and a frame.

Just as I was about to enter the forest on the hillside, I found a thistle plant with seeds about to fly away. I got many nice pictures, but this was is my favorite, showing a parachute catching the wind to carry the seed away! BON VOYAGE! :D Explored on November 27, 2013. Highest placement, page 4...

Here you can see the seed head where the achenes are seated. When the seeds are ripe, the seed head will stretch downwards, loosening the hold of the achenes and allowing them to be carried away by the wind. If you would like to see a microscopic view of dandilions and the achenes, seeds, and more, please visit this wonderful and fascinating page! A Close-up View of the Wildflower "Dandelion"

These glowing, golden parachutes (pappus) are specially modified parts of a flower called "sepals." They are able to catch the lightest breeze and lift up into the air, carrying the seed as far as a mile or more away from the parent plant! No wonder we find dandilions (and goatsbeard) everywhere! :D Explored on June 28. Highest position, page 2 (#50).

Here you can see the stalk of a goatsbeard parachute. The thick, barbed area is called an "achene" and inside is where you will find the actual seed. Did you know that strawberry "seeds" are actually achenes? The seeds are inside this outer husk! To find out more about achenes, Wiki has a very good page here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achene

Goatsbeard flowers look quite different than dandilions, but they create the same "parachute balls", except that they are much larger and can be 3" or more in diameter! The seeds form inside an "achene" on a stalk which has the "parachute" or "pappus" at the top. The parachutes catch the wind and can be carried for miles before dropping to the ground!

4 more pictures can be found in notes above! :) You can also find me on Facebook ! Doing a 365 Project has been one of the most rewarding challenges I've ever attempted, but it has its frustrating points too. For instance, I can only pick ONE main picture for each day (collages aren't the same thing!), and sometimes I'm very lucky and manage to get several star-performers. It can be really maddening, and though I can choose to share those pictures that day also, the Picture of the Day will always diminish the other images. ARGH! :D Today is my Goatsbeard Seed exhibit, with my Picture of the Day and FOUR star performers from another day. ( This is the picture that made the pick that day and it included a series of its own! ) I decided that in order to get these pictures the attention they deserve, I would find another goatsbeard for my Picture of the Day and show all my pictures then. And so, I present to you, Goatsbeard Seed Day! :D I hope you enjoy them! :) (There are 4 other pictures following this one!) Joseph Addison (1 May 1672 – 17 June 1719) was an English essayist, poet, playwright and politician. He was the eldest son of reverend Lancelot Addison. His name is usually remembered alongside that of his long-standing friend, Richard Steele, with whom he founded The Spectator magazine. Wikipedia: Joseph Addison Explored on June 28. Highest position, page 2 (#36).

Don't you just love to blow on dandilion fluff?! I think every child has loved to find these and make a wish before blowing. I never realized that dandelions aren't the only flowers that make these fluffy balls made of a globe of seeds. In fact, there are countless flowers which distribute their seeds this way, and it makes sense...the seeds become airborne and can travel quite a distance on a windy day. I have a difficult time resisting from taking pictures of these fluffy balls because they are so cool looking, whether a perfect ball or with just a couple of seeds left, like this one! :) This image was taken in April, 2012.

[best appreciated at full size against black] Another image taken down by the Rogue River, I was just about 20 feet from the water where these plants were standing, dry, fluffy, and beautiful! This image was taken in February, 2012.