Hot pink
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By the afternoon of March 31 the temperature had risen to around 92° and I was tired from all the driving and trekking and photographing, but through some trees on my side of the road Eve spotted this colony of phlox that was too good to pass by, so I turned the car around for what ended up being our last stop of the day. Talk about intense colors, right?
Location: TX 123 south of Seguin. Etymology: phlox is a Greek word for ‘flame.’ Phlox comes in many colors, some of which are redder and therefore more realistically flame-like than these. Somehow I don’t think the ancient Greeks had a word for ‘hot pink.’
© 2012 Steven Schwartzman
Portraits of Wildflowers 
What a beautiful bed of flowers. Love the varying shades of pink.
The Background Story
April 13, 2012 at 6:02 AM
Yes, even in that shocking pink there are subtly different shades. Collectively they were so bright that they made the green of the foliage look dull.
Steve Schwartzman
April 13, 2012 at 6:08 AM
The last time I saw those colors was at the cosmetics counter! I don’t think I could bring myself to wear them, but they’re beautiful to look at. For sheer pinkness, they even outdo the azaleas – at least this year.
shoreacres
April 13, 2012 at 6:13 AM
I had no idea that cosmetics comes in such garish colors. Three years ago I photographed some native azaleas in far eastern Texas, and you’re right that compared to this phlox they were more subdued.
Steve Schwartzman
April 13, 2012 at 6:28 AM
Nice find and photograph. Sounds like you are experiencing the early heat too.
Brandon Brasseaux
April 13, 2012 at 8:13 AM
Yes, we’ve had temperatures in the 80s for a couple of months already. We never really had a winter.
Steve Schwartzman
April 13, 2012 at 10:23 AM
Wow the colors are so intense! Amazing!!!
dhphotosite
April 13, 2012 at 9:52 AM
Call it Day-Glo pink. The intensity was dazziling.
Steve Schwartzman
April 13, 2012 at 10:23 AM
That’ll blow your retinas! Great color and so intense.
I have had little success with growing native Phlox. I’ve managed to get one white, tall, hybridized specimen to catch on in my flower bed. It has apparently thrown some seed and they are coming up this spring. Frustrating, but I’ll keep trying.
~ Lynda
pixilated2
April 13, 2012 at 10:34 AM
That’s a great way to phrase it, Lynda: blow your retinas. Good luck with your phlox.
Steve Schwartzman
April 13, 2012 at 10:44 AM
Love the color HOT PINK!!! Have a Great Weekend:)
cravesadventure
April 13, 2012 at 11:36 AM
Will do. The phrase “hot pink” turned out to apply to the temperature (hot) and the color (pink).
Steve Schwartzman
April 13, 2012 at 1:00 PM
Hot is right! I didn’t know, either, that phlox was Greek for flame. Love that little factoid!
Susan Scheid
April 13, 2012 at 3:32 PM
I’m hot for etymology as well as photography, and this is a blog where both of those meet botany.
Steve Schwartzman
April 13, 2012 at 3:48 PM
Amazing blaze of colour. You’ve captured it really well. I don’t blame you for turning around and stopping. Who could resist taking a photo of such a scene.
victoriaaphotography
April 14, 2012 at 9:11 AM
I certainly couldn’t resist, even tired as I was.
Steve Schwartzman
April 14, 2012 at 9:14 AM
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April 21, 2012 at 5:46 AM
Thanks for letting me camp out in your blog this morning. I had a great time, enjoyed your work, and tried to leave my campsite as clean as when I arrived.
Russel Ray Photos
April 25, 2012 at 2:40 PM
That’s a unique way of putting it, Russel. I’m glad your camp-out proved rewarding.
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April 25, 2012 at 5:21 PM
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