World Photography Day 19th August 2024

Why a picture of Hydrangeas in our garden in Leicester on World Photography Day?

a) This was taken in the UK but hortensia, as they are also known, are flowering plants actually native to Asia and both North & South America so their spread is truly world-wide.

b) Hortensia, is a Latinised version of the French given name Hortense, honoring French astronomer and mathematician Nicole-Reine Hortense Lepaute.

I like the drama of these large flower heads and eye-catching green leaves but I also see them as a representation of life. How so? In this one bush is the whole life cycle if you like; birth is seen at the bottom right as a new flower begins to bloom, maturity is all around in the bright pink flowers and death beckons bottom left as the petals are already brown in anticipation of the autumn to come.

I also like how the colour of the flower is a direct indication of the pH of the soil. This pink plant is growing in alkaline conditions with a pH of 6.5 or higher while interestingly the next bush (off shot to the right) is blue indicating acidic soil with a pH or 5.5 or lower.

Best seen large IMO.