African daisy (Osteospermum)

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved. (iPhone 12 Pro Max, Camera+ 2 app in macro mode)

Osteospermum (Cape daisy)

Osteospermum (Cape daisy), Nikon D850 with Nikkor 105mm micro lens

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

African daisies

African daisies (Osteospermum)

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Carpenter bee on African daisy

Carpenter bee on African daisy (Osteospermum)

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Purplelicious Installment #3

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Last year I wrote a newsletter article for the FlowershopNetwork.com. Check out “A Passion for Purple Flowers” here.

Osteospermum ‘Nasinga Cream’

I think this is the ‘Nasinga Cream’ variety. Osteospermums are also known as African Daisy and Cape Daisy. Photographed at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay, Maine 8.23.2010

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Yet another Osteospermum

Who knew a garden center would be a great source of photo ops? I’ve photographed plant-buying expeditions with members of my garden club, but I’ve never done the “artsy” photos at a garden center. I usually just have my little Coolpix point-n-shoot handy for snapshots.

So as not to draw too much attention to myself, I brought a notebook to make notes and play like I was a garden designer (with a camera) shopping for a prospective client. I realize shooting flowers at a nursery isn’t illegal, but they’re used to customers actually spending money in their establishments. I don’t feel too guilty, though. I’ve parted with my money on numerous occasions with this particular vendor. And I’m sure this season will be no different.

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

White Spoon Osteospermum

This is an Osteospermum, also called African Daisy, Cape Daisy or Spoon Daisy (because of the spoon-shaped ray florets). I believe this might be the cultivar ‘William.’ I photographed this bloom in the Main Conservatory at Longwood Gardens earlier this month.

Learn more about growing Osteospermums at www.osteospermum.com.

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Butchart Gardens, Passel #2

The parade of flowers continues…words simply cannot describe how over the moon I was to be photographing in that garden all day long…flitting from flower to flower to flower just like the insects I encountered…would someone please please please pay me to do this every day?

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

A day of bliss

More images from our day out at Green Spring Gardens…

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Katydid nymph Scudderia on Osteospermum

How’s that for a title? I photographed this tiny (less than 1/2 inch) little critter in my friend Nanda’s garden. After some research on my favorite “bug identifier site” (http://bugguide.net), I’ve discovered he/she is a Katydid nymph (Scudderia) and looks just like the ones posted below:

http://bugguide.net/node/view/122958
http://bugguide.net/node/view/152833/bgimage

I posted the image on BugGuide.net and got a response (and confirmation about the identity) from John and Jane Balaban in less than two minutes! How’s that for service? Thanks!

And after further research, I’ve discovered that Nanda’s flower is an Osteospermum, hailing from South Africa. The scary thing is I actually had the word “Osteospermum” in my head when I went to research what kind of flower it was. I typed in the word (spelling it correctly the first time, yay!) and my hunch was verified. Apparently I’ve absorbed more information from my massive garden book collection than I had imagined.

To narrow it down further, I think it’s the “Peach Symphony” variety. And where did I find this? On the world’s No. 1 Osteospermum Resource site, of course! http://www.osteospermum.com/

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.