(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.

| 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 to these series, please contact;
Frank L. Hoffman flh@all-creatures.org

Your Comments are Welcome:

© 2001-2004 - 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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The themes of these All Creatures Art and Photo Journals and Galleries Directory cover such subjects as - creation, earth, environment, ecology, plants, flowers, birds, trees, creature, animal, animals, fine arts, watercolor, painting, paintings, pic, pics, pictures, photos, vegetation, restoration, preservation, vegetarian, vegan, cruelty free, love, joy, peace, kindness, compassion, humor, poetry, quotations, lifestyle, Bible, recipes, sermons, stories, human, animal rights, God, Jesus, Christ, Lord, Holy Spirit, Jewish, Christian, Judeo Christian, health, ethical living, meditation, Spring Beauty or Springbeauties (Claytonia virginica) (pics-3)