Showing posts with label Hibiscus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hibiscus. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Pink Old Confederate Rose (Hibiscus mutabilis) - near Nannette's Mailbox


I have an Old Confederate Rose (Hibiscus mutabilis) shrub near my mailbox.  I bought it at a "heritage plant" sale for the Herb Soceity about 7  years ago and it has come back every year.  It is not a member of the Rosa family but of the Hibisucus or Mallow family.  Mine is a pink carnation type color but there are white cultivars.  It is believed this plant originated in China.  In the US, it grows mostly in the Southern states, zone 8-10.  It usually blooms less than 24 hours and is not suitable as a cut flower in water. This shrub blooms in late September and will stop blooming at the first frost. It can grow 8 feet tall and about 3 feet in diameter.  It likes a sunny area. Taken with Camera+ app.  It  has the saturated pink and greens because of the rain and shade.  Edited in PSE 11 which included cloning out some of the house next door or using the healing tool as I thought it distracted from the blossom. This was taken after it had rained and if you look closely can see the raindrops.  I had to climb on a steep stool to reach this bloom.  For more info about Hibiscus mutabilis:
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/southerngarden/hibiscus.html
I am hoping for more blooms and to be able to do a macro that is sharp of the stamens.  


Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Rose of Sharon CU of Single and Double Petal Cultivars

Rose of Sharon is in bloom in NC in June.  It can be a challenge to get
a good shot because the ants love to crawl in the center and between the petals.  The left image is a double petal variety that  was in my neighbor's yard.  I used Camera+ macro, HDR mode.  The backround contains blooms that have fallen on the ground.   I used PSE increased the highlights and midtones, cloned out some disfigured petals, and sharpened. This might be one to try on a black background with window lighting.  The image on the right is the single petal variety of which there are many cultivars.  This one I also used the macro mode & HDR. Post imaging I used a vignette to make the blossom stand out more.