Antelope-horns milkweed buds
Sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander, or so they say. And in the movie Sunset Blvd. the character of Norma Desmond says: “All right, Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my close-up.” So now the Mr. Schwartzman who readily brought you a close-up of a blackfoot daisy in the last post also brings you this close view of the buds of antelope-horns, Asclepias asperula, which appeared with some blackfoot daisies two posts ago. I’ll call your attention to the red star incised on each green and pudgy pentagonal bud; note also the long, stiff, folded leaves that characterize this species.
For those of you who are interested in photography as a craft, points 1 and 2 in About My Techniques are relevant to this photograph.
© 2012 Steven Schwartzman
Loved your shot, Well taken! =)
ishooteditnblog
May 20, 2012 at 5:59 AM
Thank you, and happy exploration of the flora in your neighborhood as well.
Steve Schwartzman
May 20, 2012 at 6:23 AM
This photo displays the shape of these buds in all their glory… I would probably not usually look at the buds, but I think I like them better than the actual flower! Thanks for another enlightenment Steve!
Cathy
May 20, 2012 at 6:58 AM
I hereby, and gloriously, appoint you OmBudsMan for antelope-horns milkweed.
Steve Schwartzman
May 20, 2012 at 10:23 AM
Thank you, I’m honoured! 😉
Cathy
May 20, 2012 at 1:23 PM
I do love these series of yours where you start with a wider view of the flowers under inspection, then come in for these incredible close-ups. Fabulous!
Susan Scheid
May 20, 2012 at 8:15 AM
Thanks, Susan. To quote another classic movie: “Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy night!” Okay, the word night doesn’t quite fit, but you take my point: there’s more ahead in this series on antelope-horns milkweed.
Steve Schwartzman
May 20, 2012 at 10:33 AM
How many times can I say I love your work oh this many !@!
Bonnie Michelle
May 20, 2012 at 6:20 PM
Thanks, Bonnie. I used to teach math, including numbers written in bases other than base ten, but I confess I don’t recognize the number !@!.
Steve Schwartzman
May 20, 2012 at 6:38 PM
Life is a mystery!
Bonnie Michelle
May 20, 2012 at 6:41 PM
Very interesting structure. Can’t wait to see those little balloons pop! ~ Lynda
pixilated2
May 20, 2012 at 10:58 PM
As you soon found out, you didn’t have to wait longer than the next post.
Steve Schwartzman
May 21, 2012 at 5:49 AM
Excellent shot Steve!
dhphotosite
May 21, 2012 at 2:51 PM
I’m a budding photographer.
Steve Schwartzman
May 21, 2012 at 5:40 PM
I couldn’t quite identify what seemed so familiar about this photo – it’s the colors. They’re a subtler version of the chartreuse and maroon that were so favored in the 50s. As a matter of fact, I can see them even earlier, as part of a William Morris print. Just beautiful, and so unusual.
shoreacres
May 21, 2012 at 3:48 PM
I lived through the ’50s but I can’t say I remember chartreuse and maroon; I didn’t pay much attention to such things then (though I do remember the two-tone cars of that decade). William Morris: now there was a great artist.
Steve Schwartzman
May 21, 2012 at 5:44 PM
Such potential in a bud isn’t there? What I enjoyed about this picture is not knowing what was held inside.
The World Is My Cuttlefish
May 22, 2012 at 2:06 AM
Yes, potential… and sometimes surprise.
Steve Schwartzman
May 22, 2012 at 6:34 AM