Mystery and Majesty

The blooms of a beautiful Turk’s Cap Lily (Lilium superbum) hang in splendor before a blurred-out background of yellow daylilies.

Unexpected Beauty

Little did I know when I pulled out of the driveway one recent morning that I’d soon run smack-dab into mystery and majesty.

I was driving along Yadkinville Road, intent on checking out possible photo opportunities at a nearby farm, when I glanced toward one of the private drives in the Sattsgate development. There, I saw a lady tending a large, beautiful patch of yellow daylilies. I thought, “Wow! I’ve never noticed those beauties before! I’m turning around to check them out.”

When I got out of my truck, I introduced myself to Mrs. Barbara Brooks, a retired nurse. Our conversation went on for at least an hour, as Barbara graciously showed me around the floral paradise that surrounds the home where she lives with her husband, Dr. Joe Brooks, a retired N.C. State horticulturist. (You should also know that Dr. Brooks proudly drives a bright red — really clean — pickup truck with an NCSU plate on the front!)

To enjoy MORE PHOTOS of NATURE’S WONDERS at the home of Dr. Joe and Barbara Brooks, please continue to the NEXT SECTION.

Beautiful Daylilies

Soon enough Barbara kindly granted permission for me to photograph the flowers throughout the yard. I started with the yellow daylilies. After all, at this time of the year, the bright yellow hue of the lilies is gloriously emblazoned across the front edge of the Brookses’ yard.

With my senses in overload, I began photographing the beautiful daylilies, mixing up my shots using wide angle, close-up and long lenses. The visual opportunities were limitless!

This yellow daylily stands as one among many lilies at the home of Dr. Joe and Barbara Brooks in Lewisville, North Carolina.

Exquisite Details

I not only had the immense joy of photographing the Brookses’ flowers, but I also closely observed and photographed some of the insects that were visiting the flowers. As I focused closely on such creatures as the moth, the bee and the butterfly, I was fascinated by some exquisite details:

• The well-placed markings and shades of color creating a balanced design.
• The beady eyes of the moth.
• The appendages of the bee and the moth that perform tasks with dexterity and precision.
• The shimmering metallic blue color of the butterfly’s wings and body.
• The soft-looking, attractive “fur” on the bee’s body.

A male Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly (Battus philenor) flutters over the patch of daylilies. Notice the specks of yellow pollen that had fallen onto the butterfly’s wings — a divinely ingenious way for flowers to become pollinated as the butterfly travels from flower to flower.

The Marvel of Pollination

Without insects, butterflies, moths, flies, birds and other such animals — also known as pollinators — the pollination of the world’s flowers would suffer. Many flowers would not reproduce, and we would, sadly, not have so many beautiful flowers to enjoy.

Even more astounding, were it not for these unassuming creatures, 80% of the world’s food-yielding flowering plants would not be pollinated, drastically affecting the food on our tables.

Now, that’s a pretty amazing responsibility. Of course, these unsung heroes have no idea how very important they are. They’re simply doing what comes natural — instinctively following a divine blueprint that is both mysterious and majestic.

A close-up view of the center of a daylily. Pollen, located at the top of each long-stemmed stamen, is needed to pollinate flowers of the same species.

POLLINATION INFORMATION
To learn more about pollination, be sure to check out the U.S. Forest Service pollination web page. In addition, a Wikipedia article explains the growing concern over pollinator decline in many ecosystems worldwide.

Visit the Photo Gallery

Now that you’ve seen a few of the daylily photos, please take a look at the other flower and insect photos in the Dr. Joe and Barbara Brooks flower photo gallery.

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