Monday, April 13, 2009

Look Close

Everyone recovering from Easter? I know Megan and I are. Fun, food, and family this weekend, but boy did it suck the energy out of me. Couple that with beginning my first full workweek in over six weeks, and I'm zapped.

Yesterday, I posted a group of daffodils from Inniswood Metrogardens, a public park near Westerville Ohio, about 10 minutes from our house. I had never been there, and was hoping to get a few nice shots of spring flowering trees. Although that didn't really happen, I did get the image above, which is tight crop from my full frame shot.

There are a few interesting things about this plant, the first being that I don't remember its name, but I really should. It is in the genus Veronica, and it is a common lawn weed. It was one of the very first plants that I ran through Clara Weishaupt's Vascular Plants of Ohio dichotomous key, way back in 1998 while taking Prof. Matt Hils vascular plant class at Hiram College. At the time, I couldn't stand "running" plants through a key, and i'm not extremely fond of it still, although I do it all the time.

But take a look at those red velvet mites. Aren't they neat? The are absolutely TINY! The veronica flower is only 5 or so millimeters across, and the little red creepy crawlies are absolutely minuscule. I saw a dozen or so "serious" photographers that day, but I'm confident I'm the only one that had the patience to capture the smallest of the small at Inniswood.

Tom

P.S. Image will enlarge when clicked on.

P.P.S. Weston says hi. He's lying on my lap right now.

18 comments:

  1. That looks like "mite-y" speedwell to me ;)

    Hi back to Weston!

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  2. Great shot! I always love it when I download a photo & realize I've caught a little hanger-on. It's like getting a surprise present!

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  3. Don't think I have seen this plant...really great close-up!

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  4. Mites rock. Great catch!

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  5. I can assure you that many photographed but few "saw" the mites. Great photograph of flower and mites - thanks for the info!

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  6. Tom, that's AWESOME! You must have an incredible macro lens! The mites are a bonus! What a treat..great job!

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  7. Neat shot. It looks like you can actually see little white pollen grains. I wonder if the mites act as pollinators or if they're eating the pollen.

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  8. Swampy- Weston is currently doing mom and baby pilates with his mom. He's wondering what exactly is going on.

    Lana- Thanks very much. I did see these guys when I took the image, but I've done the same thing before. Its an extra treat.

    Mary- Check your yard. You may find it, but the flowers are tiny.

    Jain- Thanks very much.

    Barb- You are welcome.

    Thanks Chris- I do have a dedicated macro lens, the Canon EFS 60mm F2.8 ultrasonic. How's that for an overly long name?

    Kathleen- I saw the pollen, but your question didn't register. That's a great question. I'm going to bet that they just eat the pollen, being so small, but that is just a guess.

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  9. Tom,

    Veronica agrestis

    Field speedwell.....I too posted an earlier image of the plant:

    http://www.kabt.org/2009/03/19/a-true-identification-challenge/

    ksbioteacher

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  10. Tom: (Mite)y good shot, I must say. Really neat capture.

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  11. Very cool! I normally get vaguely annoyed with bugs in the flowers I photograph, but those are such a contrast to the flower, they really add to the photo.

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  12. What an awsome shot. I am going to have to look closr at these little flowers now. Thanks

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  13. OMG and I thought they were part of the flower. Tom thanks for sharing, and wishing you fast recovery from Easter. I will be recovering next week, one more Easter to go this weekend, lol. Anna :)

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  14. Beautiful cyan blue colour

    I love flowers like this

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  15. Brad- Thank you very much for the name.

    Tom- Somebody else used that one. Still a great pun though!

    Adam- I never really thought about the color differences between the red and the blue. They really do contrast quite nicely. Great observation.

    Super Mom- Yes, look closely at everything, you never know what you might find.

    Anna- Good luck. It is a ton of work hosting easter for all the family.

    Roentarre- Yes, it is a wonderful cyan color, isn't it? I really had not thought of that color being cyan, but I think you are exactly right.

    Tom

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  16. I really do enjoy the Veronica's and Speedwells too. They have made their appearance over on this property too. I believe they are even edible, but the mites may be a bit chewy. :)

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  17. Mitey! Really an interesting photo.

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