This is an exotic plant and we inherited it when we bought our home 3 years ago. Waratahs are spectacular garden plants. These plants are in the genus Telopea which is in the family Proteaceae. They produce bright red flowers in spring (although some plants selected and/or bred in cultivation produce white, pink or yellow flowers) and attract a wide variety of birds. This one is about 2 metres high and has flowers at the end of the branches. I processed this shot this way in an effort to get rid of a bright blue sunspot. Does anyone know how to get rid of these sunspots?
Three good things;
1. I got so hot doing the lawns today, I chose to have a cold shower - the shrieks could be heard next door!
2. So much wind today but it blew the lawn clippings next door!
3. Next door people are very quiet.
1. you can buy a cream from the chemist for sunspots.
2. your neighbours were probably shocked into silence by your shrieks.
3. your clippings today are your neighbours' compost tomorrow.
It looks a beautiful flower and i love the way you have processed this shot which has given it a wonderful atmosphere. My editing skills are no help I am afraid Maggiemae as I have no idea how to get rid of a sunspot. I think you did the best thing and used it in the shot which gives a great glow from the right.
beautiful shot and interesting processing. the trick with cold showers is to start off warm and cool it down gradually. I used to have cold baths when I was at high school - simply because we had no hot water.
LOL maggiemae , you sound in good form today, as for the sun spots not too much sun here for it ever to bother me much!!! I would never have a clod shower even in the mid summer...brave girl!! The neighbours must think you are nuts!!!! I was going to say I will look out for this flower but I never come over in the Spring, families too busy farming in those months.
A lovely image created and enhanced with processing Maggiemae -- what beautiful blooms and to have them growing in your garden (I am very envious - but our climate would never sustain life of these tropical flowers ) I have come across them before as we purchased a couple of blooms for a floral art composition --I remember --expensive !! And I only knew them by the family name of Proteaceae !!
@maggiemae I live next door to an elderly lady (who lives on her own) and hearing those stories of people who die and no one finds the body for months, I always think I ought to check if I don't see Sally for a few days - but them she appears and I know all is well. The wind is drying out my garden and the spinach has really had enough of it!!
It's very pretty this way, but unfortunately I don't know how to overcome photographic sunspots. As for the neighbors if you want some really noisy ones, I'd be glad to ship over the little girl that lives a few doors down and screams in her backyard all day.
I love how you have processed this. Did you use a polaroid filter? that might help in future or I would have done what you have and processed the image.
2. your neighbours were probably shocked into silence by your shrieks.
3. your clippings today are your neighbours' compost tomorrow.
I'd never take a cold shower.
I'd never take a cold shower... grrr.... noooo
Cold showers are ok in summer when the water isn't quite as cold
And don't send us the wind, had enough all ready.
Lovely flowers - never attempted to grow one, but they grow beautifully in Canberra.