Category: Flowers

Sticky Catchfly is a Nature’s Survivor

Captures from Finland, Flowers, Photography

Name also Clammy campion (usa), Red german catchfly

Sticky catchfly is a plant that originally grew on rocky areas, dry hills, and sandy meadows. It has adapted to human environments, spreading to pastures and sunny roadsides. The plant can survive long droughts thanks to its deep taproot. Its distinctive reddish-brown sticky substance, which covers the upper stem, helps deter predators like ants. You can often see insects stuck to the stem. When picked, the sticky tar gets on your hands. Sometimes, a pink-flowered version can be found that doesn’t secrete any liquid. Its smaller relative, alpine catchfly (V. alpina), secretes very little or no tar at all.

At the start of summer, the red flowers of sticky catchfly attract queen bees, which are busy creating new colonies and pollinating. When the queen is in the hive caring for her young, the smaller worker bees are less effective at pollination. The flowers also draw in various insects, like butterflies, flower flies, and small beetles. Additionally, pollinators can spread diseases, such as spores from parasitic ustilaginales fungi, and even the sticky substance on the stem doesn’t protect catchfly from these harmful pests.

Water Avens A Resilient Summer Flower

Captures from Finland, Flowers, Photography

Summer flowers that keep up showing every year, this is so pretty and useful too. Water avens has these big, drooping reddish-brown flowers that really catch your eye and make it easy to recognize. It’s got a bunch of local Finnish names, showing how long it’s been part of Finnish life. If you’ve ever noticed honey bees and bumblebees buzzing around it, that’s where its name comes from! Interestingly, wasps also come by, but they don’t help with pollination.

The image features a close-up view of a delicate yellow water Avens bud, partially open, revealing intricate details of its central green and yellow reproductive parts. The flower and its hairy stems are sharply focused, while the background is a soft, blurred bokeh of greens and yellows, the natural outdoor setting with sunlight filtering through foliage. Other buds and leaves are visible but out of focus, adding depth and texture to the composition.

If you are looking at these on a computer, click the gallery to have a better look.

This plant is native to almost all of Finland, except for the fell Lapland areas, and you’ll mostly find it in the southern parts of the country, from the Bay of Bothnia all the way south. In the wild, water avens thrives in all sorts of damp and rich spots like hedgerows by the shore, streambanks, springs, and particularly in the lush swamps of the north. It’s also quite happy in human-made areas, often seen thriving along the sides of ditches. One fun fact is that its achenes have these hooked tips and stiff hairs that let them latch onto people and animals, helping it spread even more!

In the summer time

Captures from Finland, Flowers, iPhone photography, Photography

When the weather is fine you can enjoy the sunshine and…

The yellow dandelion fields they have turned white since our last visit, I reckon it looks pretty nice like this too.

Gravel road
Field of dandelions
They do look nice, I really enjoy taking pictures of them
Fluffy dandelions
How you frame your picture is so important

Have a happy Thursday🙂 I am enjoying it in the hammock

When the weather is fine 😁

Not so monochrome -lilacs

Flowers

On a request, here are my lilac photos on color, showcasing this flower that insists on flaunting its beauty in every possible lighting condition—it’s like the diva of the garden and the scent of her, aah!! Whether it’s posing against a clear blue sky, showing off its gorgeous self amidst lush greenery, or just casually lounging in the softness of a pastel backdrop, the lilac’s knack for stealing the spotlight, proving once and for all that flowers can outshine even the best of us in the color department!

White lilacs
Light purple lilacs stand for first love and early affection
White lilacs primarily symbolize purity and youthful innocence. In the traditional language of flowers, they represent a sweet, untainted soul, humility, and modesty

The Flower Hour #32

Nature’s Details: Dark-Leaved Willow in Spring

Flowers, Photography

Debbies Six Word Saturday

The Dark-leaved willow (Salix myrsinifolia) is a willow species native to Europe and Western Siberia, known for its fuzzy, cylindrical catkins that appear alongside or just before new leaves in spring.

A close-up photograph of a slender willow branch adorned with fluffy white and green seed pods or flowers, set against a soft-focused green background. The vibrant green leaves surrounding the pods create a lively contrast with the delicate, almost feathery textures of the blooms. The fresh spring growth and natural beauty, with a gentle bokeh effect that highlights the details of the plant while softly blurring the surrounding foliage. and the green is refreshing, I am celebrating the intricate beauty of nature’s small details.

The Short-lived Beauty of Spring Flowers

Flowers, Photography

Spring flowers in nature bloom and fade so quickly, their beauty often lasting only a fleeting moment. Last weekend, I took these shots of wood sorrels, capturing their delicate petals and delicate flowers while they were still alive in the warm sunlight. However, this week, there is only the green leaves left, as nature effortlessly transitions to palette of greens.

Oxalis acetosella, common wood sorrel, cuckoo bread, shamrock

The taste of the wood sorrel is familiar to many from childhood summers, used to pick them up while playing with friends in the woods. The flavor is refreshingly sour, now I know it is due to the oxalic acid it contains just like rhubarb. We never used it in fresh in salads, soups, and various sauces, where it adds a lemony tartness as fas as I remember.

common wood sorrel, cuckoo bread, shamrock

The beauty I came across during my walk in the woods was what I was searching for, I spotted these delicate wood sorrels, these white flowers, their thin purple veins and yellow centers really stood out. They were nestled among vibrant green clover-like leaves, surrounded by all sorts of other foliage. I took the photo so that the background was softly blurred, filled with warm earthy tones—think soil, dried leaves, and moss—creating a serene woodland atmosphere. Sunlight was gently illuminating the flowers and leaves, bringing out their textures and colors beautifully. Overall, it was just this quiet moment of wildflower beauty in the forest on a bright day.

common wood sorrel, cuckoo bread, shamrock

Participating in Terri’s The Flower Hour #31

Apple Tree Blossoms: A Springtime Celebration

Flowers, Photography


I’ve been blogging on WordPress for 14 years now, and what learning curve it’s been! Today, I’m happy to share that I’ve hit a cool milestone—my posts have received views from over 150 different countries! That is pretty awesome is that? It’s odd, slightly unreal to think about how my little blog has reached such a diverse mix of people. The United Nations has nothing on me 😂, that’s what the achievement notice on my site; and honestly, that’s a pretty cool thing to be proud off. Every comment feels like a personal connection with someone out there, and it what keeps doing what I love—blogging and sharing my photographs and thoughts. This achievement notice really shows me how amazing digital platforms can be for bringing folks together.

So HUGE thanks for all the comments and likes. I really appreciate you! It means the world to me and motivates me to keep sharing my photography with you. It’s inspiring to see how our conversations grow and how your feedback helps shape what I do. Every like and comment not only boosts my confidence but also fosters a sense of community among us.

In Finland, spring brings the blossoming of apple trees. The fragrant white and pink flowers signal the arrival of spring. So this what I am happy to share with you this time.

Apple tree blossoms, like delicate clouds, bring forth pure joy

In spring’s gentle embrace, the apple trees whisper,
Their blossoms, like delicate clouds, bring forth pure joy.
Soft white petals blush, swaying gently in the warm morning light,
Rustling like a soothing lullaby to greet the day.
Bees flit about, wrapped in a sweet, buzzing haze,
As they blossom together in the soft warmth of sunlit rays.

A close-up of a delicate branch adorned with white apple tree blossoms and buds. The background is softly blurred creating a dreamy, natural atmosphere that highlights the freshness and beauty of the blooming flowers. The overall mood has the essence of springtime and renewal.

Mother’s Day’s flowers

Flowers, Photography

I got these this Mother’s Day traditional flowers that usually bloom for this occasion. I posting this for Johns Cellpic Sunday.

In Finland, white anemone is associated with Mother's Day and the progress of flowering, along with the common anemone and the blue anemone, as one of the first flowering wildflowers of spring.

White anemone

The Beauty of Poppies Along the Road

Flowers, Photography

For The Flower Hour on May 6th, I want to share these striking poppies I noticed by the roadside; they truly stood out in their vibrant brightness.

These striking poppies I noticed by the roadside

If you are ever feeling lost

Flowers, Traveling Crete

…or with out perspective. Change your focus.

A weathered wooden sign with the word ‘LOST’ stands amidst tall grasses and wildflowers against a muted background.

Participating in SixWordSaturday.

A close-up of a field of purple flowers with a blurred ‘LOST’ sign in the background, creating a contrast between nature and an intriguing message.

Macro Monday – 6 April 2026

Flowers, Nature
A close-up of fire moss (Ceratodon purpureus), which is a very common pioneer moss species in Finland, highlighting its intricate textures. This focus on its natural beauty and ecological importance, drawing attention to the often-overlooked details of nature that can contribute to biodiversity and environmental health.

Tulip Beauty in Monochrome and Color

Black and White photos, Flowers, Photography

Monochrome Madness is giving us a free week, which means no specific prompt this time around—so much easier to choose the topic. I thought it would be lovely to post flowers, so this week I’m excited to share some gorgeous tulips that a dear friend gave me. I snapped these beauties against the window, using backlight to really capture the details of the petals in the monochrome images. Plus, since I’m also sharing this with TheFlowerHour, I’ve included some colorful images too, taken in light coming mostly from the side above. Just wait until you see the lovely orange shade!

A striking contrast of black and white captures a bouquet of tulips, with the dark background emphasizing their delicate petals and complex textures in the first image in the gallery. The other two monochrome portrayals showcases the arrangement of tulips in a vase, featuring intricate details set against a gently blurred backdrop. Complementing and contrasting this is the radiant bouquet of orange tulips, artfully positioned in a cobalt blue vase atop a wooden table, exuding vibrancy and charm.

Click the gallery images to enlarge them

Soon, not yet, snowdrops will emerge

Flowers

The snow is melting so fast at the moment, you almost feel the spring. One of the first signs of spring in my backyard is the rise of the snowdrops. So near, but not yet there.

Close-up of a snowdrop flower bud, symbolizing early spring.
Close-up of a snowdrop flower bud, symbolizing early spring.

Soon…and from the ground, a gentle hum
as vibrant snowdrops reach for the sky
in just a week, a wave of change will come
and white blooms where life begins to thrive
with people arriving, pursuing bold dreams
they say the seasons can’t dictate our path
but one glance at a snowdrop, and optimism awakens.

Delicate snowdrop flowers emerging in early spring.
Delicate snowdrop flowers emerging in early spring.

Participating in SixWordSaturday

Wordless Wednesday

Captures from Finland, Flowers
Close-up of a pussy willow with dew droplets on its surface, set against a blurred natural background. First sign of spring can be found in sunny places

Bush Lily, Natal Lily, Fire Lily

Flowers

It has several common names in English, including: 

Kaffir Lily, Clivia Lily, St. John’s Lily

The plant shown in the image is known by the scientific name Clivia miniata. 

Vibrant orange blooms of the Clivia miniata, commonly known as Bush Lily or Natal Lily, surrounded by lush green leaves.
Clivia miniata, commonly known as Bush Lily, showcasing its vibrant orange trumpet-shaped blooms.

This plant is a perennial flowering plant native to Southern Africa and is a popular, long-lived houseplant known for its bright orange, trumpet-shaped blooms. I photographed it in southern Australia

Participating in Six Word Saturday

Spring Blooms: Eastern Pasque Flower

Flowers, Photography

I do not know my plants, if they are pretty that is mostly enough information for me. I googled this flower and flower enthusiasts may appreciate this.

The image displays the plant known as the common pasque flower (Pulsatilla vulgaris), also referred to as the Eastern pasque flower (Pulsatilla patens) in some contexts.
Key characteristics of the plant: Form: It is a perennial herb with a short, upright rootstock.
Height: The plant typically grows 5 to 25 cm tall.Flower: The flowers are radial to bell-shaped, purplish-blue, and 5.5–8.5 cm wide. They bloom early in spring, often in April or May, as one of the first perennials to flower.
Leaves: Basal leaves are stalked and develop after flowering. The stem leaves form a whorl below the flower.
Habitat: It grows in dry heathlands and is also a popular ornamental garden plant.
Status: In Finland, the species had disappeared from the wild but has reappeared in some locations. The Eastern pasque flower is a protect in Finland

These were photographed at the Botanical garden last spring.

The Flower Hour #18

Close-up of the common pasque flower (Pulsatilla vulgaris) showcasing its distinct purplish-blue blooms and velvety buds.
A common pasque flowers (Pulsatilla vulgaris) in bloom, showcasing their purplish-blue petals and fuzzy stems.
A purple common pasque flower and fuzzy stem.

The Allure of Siberian Iris

Flowers, Photography

I’m participating in The Flower Hour by sharing these images of Siberian Iris, showcasing the classic hue of a deep, vibrant purple.

A vibrant purple iris and intricate details and patterns.
A vibrant purple iris flower in full bloom,
Flowers, Photo Collage, Photography

Värikollaasi #485 Color Collage

Color of light is an interesting idea for a color.

Light itself contains all colors, appearing white when combined, yet it consists of a spectrum of colors—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet—each with a unique wavelength. 

Color of light

Nature’s Artistry

Flowers, Photography

For this week’s edition of Flower Hour Weekly for Terri, I’ve rummaged through my archives in search of inspiration and beauty. I haven’t purchased any new flowers for the vase, and nature currently offers only evergreens and snow, so my choices are quite restricted, leaving me to reflect on the stunning blooms I’ve captured in the past. These flowers are nature’s artistry in my mind; they delight me even when we are surrounded by the stillness of winter.

Blooming flower of giant granadilla or giant passion fruit (Passiflora quadrangularis)

A blooming flower of giant granadilla (Passiflora quadrangularis) nestled among vibrant green leaves against backlight.

Frozen Flowers in Winter

Flowers, Photography

I had the fortune of capturing the intricate and fragile beauty of winter in a close-up of frost-laden branches and frozen blossoms. The branches display the frost’s elaborate designs, while the flowers shine with crystalline ice, producing a striking visual contrast against a gently blurred backdrop. A slight alteration in light and composition enhances the sparkle of one image, while the version with the blue background reveals more detail. These visuals underscore the tranquil and enchanting qualities of the winter season, showcasing nature’s craftsmanship in its chilliest state.

A close-up of frost-covered branches, the delicate beauty of winter.
Frozen flowers glistening with ice crystals against a soft, blurred background.

For FOTD

The Beauty of Dried Hydrangeas

Flowers, Photography

It is cold, and the world outside is mostly white, blanketed in a thick layer of snow. The brown hydrangeas are still up under the snow, their once-vibrant blooms now a muted memory, yet they stand resilient in this wintry landscape. Here are some close-ups from their leaves, showcasing the unique textures and shapes that remain visible even beneath the frosty remnants.

Delicate dried petals reflecting softly against a smooth surface.
A close-up view of dried hydrangea leaves, showcasing their intricate textures and muted colors.

The Flower Hour 27.1

the rugosa rose

Flowers

We have snow blanketing the ground and evergreens standing tall at the moment that I could photograph. Right now, I have no fresh flowers in the vase to add a splash of color. However, while sifting through my old photos, I stumbled upon these shots of roses from my visit to the Espoo Cathedral several years ago; there were several flowers to photograph They are not at their peek, but sometimes even the decay looks good. Nowadays these flowers are to be eradicated, but my images were captured before that suggestion was made. I took a bit of editing liberties with the first two images to enhance their vibrant hues and textures, hoping to capture the essence of those fleeting moments when nature’s beauty takes center stage.

Flowers with intricate details.

Why should we eradicate the rugosa rose?

The rugosa rose (Rosa rugosa) is classified as an invasive species under Finnish legislation, and its spread must be prevented and populations eradicated. The cultivation of the rugosa rose and its white-flowered form (Rosa rugosa f. alba) is prohibited as of June 1, 2022.

Haitallisen kurtturuusun tunnistaminen ja torjunta pihalla ja ...

Rosa rugosa in English is commonly called Rugosa Rose, Japanese Rose, Beach Rose, or Ramanas Rose, known for its tough, wrinkled leaves, fragrant pink/white flowers, large vitamin C-rich hips, and hardiness in coastal/harsh conditions, but it’s also an invasive species in many areas due to its vigorous spreading, making it great for hedges but needing management.

Participating in  The Flower Hour