Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Beauty in the Conservatory



(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

I've mentioned several times that Betsy and I have season tickets to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. While we enjoy the beautiful gardens, we almost always visit the Conservatory when we are there. I'm not up on all the names of the gorgeous blossoms we see, such as the beauty above, but my breath is always taken away by what we find in the Conservatory. It's a good thing there was a 'Do Not Touch' sign, or I would have touched this just to convince myself it was real.

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Picture perfect!

Ms. A said...

Don't ask me why, but I always think of Hawaii when I see those flowers! (and I don't even know if they grow there)

penny said...

Nature creates some amazing flowers and this one is at the top of the list.
Thank you for sharing the beauty, George.
~:)

Indrani said...

The sheen captured so well.

MadSnapper said...

they do look unreal, they have that waxed look, so pretty. they have these in the rain forest part of Selby

黄清华 Wong Ching Wah said...

Beautiful find !

LV said...

No matter where you go, you find so much beauty to share.

EG CameraGirl said...

I think visiting a conservatory this time of year would lift just about anyone's spirits!

Sey said...

It's "Anthurium", my mom happens to have two variety on her garden (red and pink). When the flower blooms, I also couldn't believe they're real but they are and like in the conservatoy, my mom almost put a sign of no touch on them.

Jeevan said...

When i first time saw this flower i too have a doubt on its reality! Glad they not prevent photography. Nice one.

Leovi said...

I love this flower, beautiful color and texture, great photo. Greetings.

happyone said...

A red beauty!!

Ginny Hartzler said...

I have seen these before, but don't know what they are. I think maybe some sort of bromeliad? They do look like plastic, not real!! And this shot shows that aspect very well.

Busy Bee Suz said...

This is just gorgeous...and I SHOULD know the name of this tropical beauty...but I don't. :)

Ruth Hiebert said...

That is definitely unique beauty.

troutbirder said...

I know that plant! And ten years ago I could have remembered the name. Our zoo in St. Paul has wonderful conservatory as well.

imac said...

They always look plastic George, but they are real beauties.Ive seen some down in Cornwall.

A Colorful World said...

Gorgeous flower. There is something about bright red that just makes a person happy! Especially in the winter when there is snow. Perhaps you will be getting warmer days soon, but I just loved the pictures on Betsy's blog about your last trip into the snowy mountains. Great shots!

Thanks for your comments on my mailboxes and spring flowers!

diane b said...

I hate to tell you but we have these growing in the mall in town. They are beautiful. I tried to grow one but I wasn't successful.

Hilda said...

I haven't seen an anthurium this red in years - I guess because it was the most common color for us for such a long time. The more popular varieties now are white and pale green, both delicately lovely.

Sandy said...

Beautiful ! (o:

Sharodindu said...

Lovely flower...

Giga said...

Twoje zdjęcie, jak zawsze cudowne. Nie przejmuj się, że nie znasz nazw kwiatów. Ja nawet nie staram się zapamiętać wszystkich, bo dla mnie najważniejsze, że kwiat mi się podoba. Pozdrawiam. *** Your photos, as always wonderful. Do not worry, you do not know the names of flowers. I do not even try to remember all, because the most important to me that the flower I like it. Yours.

A Lady's Life said...

I know It doesn't look real does it lol but it is.

Carletta said...

I was just thinking when this opened that these never look real. My daughter got an arrangement from an office party and when she brought it home I had to tell her the flower was real. :)
Lovely shot George!