Friday, October 05, 2007

Poker School

Someone's Holding All The Aces

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON


These striking flowers are called red-hot pokers and they're a riot of colour at the moment. I know they grow in Britain, but I'm not sure if they can also be seen in Canada and the USA. They're wonderful to photograph, because of the rich range of colours. I guess they're like the mavericks of the plant world, because they're so different from "normal" blooms.

23 comments:

Pijush said...

Hi David,

These are some amazing flowers captured wonderfully. I though first one kali Patka(crackers) of Kolkata, but the second one is extremely gorgeous.
Thanks for sharing.

Cheers,
Pijush

Anonymous said...

nice photo. i have never seen flowers like this befor.

david mcmahon said...

Hi Pijush,

Thank you. I was very interested to see that they reminded you of patakas.

It's that time of year, too!

Keep smiling

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi Hoto,

Nice to hear from you. They look great at this time of year, especially in rows ....

Keep smiling

David

lime said...

i've never seen such a flower but it is really and intriguing looking bloom. thaks for sharing it with us.

Les Becker said...

I've never seen such a thing in Canuckia. Those are gorgeous! We have a plant we call "Fireweed", but it doesn't even come close to "Red Hot Pokers" as far as being that striking. Wow!

John said...

Beautiful colors inthat shot, David.

Anonymous said...

Hello, David! Thank you for visiting my blog so that I could find you and enjoy this BEAUTIFUL photography! I'm a native California...we've got something similar, I think, but I'd have to see the whole plant. HOWEVER, this time of year is my favorite here for just the sort of beauty you've captured. We've got trees turning that color. Fruit turning that color....Other plants with the rich warm hues of fire red, amber, and ochre. Fall in California - with the contrast of all that firey glow against the deep green that's always here - is wonderful!

:) Namaste!

dot said...

I don't know much about flowers so I can't say that they are grown in the USA. They certainly are unusual and beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Hi David! Thanks for visiting my blog so that I could fill my eyes with some of your amazing photography this morning! Our blogs certainly share that "editorial" feel that you described...I will be back for future visits (blogrolled ya' if you don't mind!)...

Cheers!

Brian in Oxford said...

careful! don't put your eye out with that thing!

Lisa Johnson said...

Hi David! What lovely flowers! I've never seen them before. You have quite a nice blog here. I'll be returning! And thanks for visiting mine too! ; )

karoline in the morning said...

what an awesome flower! crazy...

i shall have to find out if they are indeed available up here in canada..do you know the scientific name david?

k:)

Suldog said...

I've never seen such a thing here in the New England region of the USA. Perhaps it enjoys warmer weather?

duopastorale said...

Oh yes, we have them, all different colours. But they've all gone by now.

Anonymous said...

http://www.diggingdog.com/pages2/kniphofia.php
Red Hot Poker is a tough old plant. Saw it for the first time in Texas, US.
What beautiful photos! Amazing color!

Anonymous said...

Wow, what a vivid shade of red! I've never seen flowers like that before. Cool shots!

Jeni said...

I've never heard or seen these flowers before but boy, they sure are stunning, aren't they?;'/;'...c,l

Merisi said...

Wow, those flowers really are amazing! Are you sure this isn't Jim Henson playing a muppet on you? ;-) I hear a creaky voice somewhere ....

Melissa said...

What a beautiful flower. I think it's amazing how flowers are so different and so unique. Very striking shade of red.

Stacy said...

Beautiful! I want them in my garden.

Buscador said...

Wow these are amazing! I agree that the colors are great! I can tell you I've never seen those here in Texas.

Unknown said...

wow - those flowers are unique and amazing. I've never seen them before.