Spring Beauty or Springbeauties (Claytonia virginica)
Wild Flowers of Sleepy Hollow Lake
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Dedicated to the Preservation and Restoration of the Whole of Creation
Humans - Animals - Environment
"And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good.
And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day" (Genesis 1:31)
This is an endangered wildflower and should not be picked or dug up.
(click on the pictures or links to enlarge)
(Spring
Beauty - 01) A spring beauty can be identified by its long narrow leaves which spring forth
near the ground around the central stock upon which the beauty of the flowers
bloom in early spring. The flower of the spring beauty is only about 1/2
inch across, or when viewed at 800 X 600 (in enlarged version) it's about 1/3
the size of the ones pictured. Spring beauties are another example of the
glory of God's creation for all of us to enjoy and protect. |
(Spring
Beauty - 02) The light and shadow adds to the interest of this ten times
actual size photo (in enlarged version) of a cluster of flowers on a spring
beauty. We all too often think of God as being all-powerful without seeing
the gentle and delicate side of the Lord's nature which these beauties depict.
To us, this is the way of God that should encourage us to hammer our swords into
plowshares and our spears into pruning hooks and never again learn war (Isaiah 2:4). |
(Spring
Beauty - 03) The early flowering spring beauty does not end with the
appearance of the first blooms. New beauties can be seen in various stages
of budding from the upper left to the bottom center of this ten times actual
size photo (in enlarged version). The flowers of the spring beauty
close at night and on overcast and rainy days when insects are not flying so
that its pollen will be available to propagate. This is just another of
God's wonders depicted in His creation. |
(Spring
Beauty - 04) In this twenty times actual size photo (in enlarged version),
we can really come to appreciate the beauty of the spring beauties. Each
flower and each petal is unique; just as our human hands and fingerprints are
individualized, so are the vein patterns in spring beauties. The Bible
teaches us that God cares for each and every one of us as individuals.
This wild flower should teach us that God cares about each and every one of His
plants and animals, too. Let us resolve in our hearts and souls to love
and protect the whole of God's creation (people, animals, and the environment)
as our way of thanking God for all that he has given us, for our actions always
speak louder than our words. |
(Spring
Beauty - 05); In this photo, we can see the linear, tapered at both
ends, spring beauty leaves. The leaves usually grow opposite one another,
in a sweeping "Y", but as can be seen in this photo, sometimes they are
solitary.
|
(Spring
Beauty - 06) This photo gives us a closer look at one of the spring
beauty leaves and an opening flower. |
(Spring
Beauty - 07) These spring beauties were hidden away under some bushes
at the edge of the woods. |
(Spring
Beauty - 08) This is another view of the spring beauty leaves and
flowers that were growing by the edge of the woods. |
(Spring
Beauty - 09) We spotted this cluster of spring beauty wildflowers
growing in the woods where they could take advantage of the spring sunshine
before the tree leaves had fully opened. We believe that this is one of
the reasons why these plants have so many flowers. |
(Spring
Beauty - 09a) This photo gives us a closer look at some of the spring
beauty flower clusters. Note how many buds are also present. |
(Spring
Beauty - 09b) This is another cluster of spring beauty flowers. |
(Spring
Beauty - 10) We always marvel at how much beauty God designed into
even his small creations. The spring beauty is truly appropriately named. |
(Spring
Beauty - 10a) In this bee's eye view of the center of a half-inch
spring beauty flower, we can see the five stamens splayed out over the center of
each of the five petals and the pistil growing straight up from the center, with
its three-sectioned stigma spread to receive the pollen grains. There also
appears to be a tiny insect, partially hidden, in the center of the spring
beauty flower. |
(Spring
Beauty - 11) In the center of this spring beauty flower is a tiny
insect, no more than 1 millimeter long, climbing up the filament of a stamen.
Even the smallest of God's creatures can enjoy the beauty of His creation. |
(Spring
Beauty - 12) From the side view of the top right spring beauty flower,
we can see that when newly opened the stamens are longer than the pistil; but as
the flower matures, the stamens lie back against the petals, leaving the pistil
standing high in the center, as can be seen in the side view of the left flower. |
(Spring
Beauty - 13) In this bee's eye view of the center of a mature spring
beauty flower, we can see how the stamens bend over against the petals, leaving
only the pistil standing upright. |
(Spring
Beauty - 14) In this greatly enlarged photo of the center of a spring
beauty flower, we did our best to focus upon the anthers at the tip of the
stamens, in order to view the pink colored pollen grains. Usually, pollen
grains are yellow. |
(Spring
Beauty - 15) More of the spring beauty's beauty! |
(Spring
Beauty - 16) This is another cluster of spring beauty flowers that are
growing on the plant's loose raceme. |
(Spring
Beauty - 17) This is a patch of spring beauty flowers that are just
beginning to open. |
(Spring
Beauty - 18) These spring beauty flowers are white with pale pink
veining and with some pink coloration in the anthers on top of the stamens. |
(Spring
Beauty - 18a) This is a bee's eye view of one of the white spring
beauty flowers that has very little pink coloration. Even the yellow
center is lighter in color. |
(Spring
Beauty - 19) This white spring beauty flower has a little more pink
coloration than the previous flower we looked at, as noted by the slightly
darker veining and the tinted anthers. At the bottom of the photo, we can
also see one of the two sepals projecting from under the flower.
|
(Spring Beauty - 20) On 24
April 2011, while on one of our walks, we spotted some spring beauty wild
flowers growing in the woods just off the road. This is one of them. |
(Spring Beauty - 20a) This
is a closer look at the previous spring beauty and a cluster of flower buds. |
(Spring Beauty - 21) This
is another one of the spring beauty flowers we spotted in the woods. Note
the buds that are just beginning to open. |
(Spring Beauty - 21a) This
is a closer look at the previous spring beauty. |
(Spring Beauty - 22) These
are some spring beauty wildflowers growing with adder's tongue. The mottled
two-tone green leaves belong to the adder's tongue. |
| Spring Beauty or Springbeauties | Wild Flowers of SHL: Photo Identification, Common Name, Scientific Name | Art and Photos |
Presented here are just a few of the countless components of God's creation.
Just as we cannot have human and animal life without water and plants, neither
can we have lasting peace without love and compassion. It is our hope and
prayer that this series will motivate people to live and act in a cruelty-free
manner; that we would no longer hurt or destroy each other, the animals or our
environment.
If you would like to contribute a photo and/or comment to these series,
please contact:
Frank L. Hoffman
flh@all-creatures.org
© 2001-2012 - The Mary T. and Frank L. Hoffman Family Foundation. All rights reserved. May be copied only for personal use or by not for profit organizations to promote compassionate and responsible living. All copied and reprinted material must contain proper credits and web site link www.all-creatures.org.
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