« Previous Day: Horseshoe Canyon |
Main
| Next Day: Rudbeckia 'Herbstsonne' »
Feb 8, 2010: Pandanus tectorius
Feb 9, 2009:
Ludisia discolor
Feb 9, 2007:
Leptospermum rotundifolium
Feb 9, 2006:
Eriophyllum lanatum var. lanatum
August 16, 2005 : Bouteloua gracilis
Interested in subscribing? Visit the main Botany Photo of the Day page and fill out the form in the upper right corner!
Keywords: Poaceae | Bouteloua gracilis (Willd. ex Kunth) Lag. ex Griffiths | Mars Hill Wildlife Management Area | Manitoba
Perhaps my favourite grass, blue grama is native to much of North America. Despite being relatively common, it still delights me everytime I see it, at least in part because of the chaotic, pointing-in-every-direction spikes. Although not as economically important as grasses such as wheat, rice, oats or barley, it is a valuable rangeland plant and an attractive drought-tolerant ornamental.
I didn't quite get the effect I wanted with this photograph (I wanted more of the spikes set against the sky), but I was already on my stomach with the camera on the ground, so I suppose I would have needed to dig a hole to get the camera any lower. Such are the restrictions of photographing a low plant.
Photography / Conservation Resource Link: Why It's Good to Talk - an article by Niall Benvie discussing the need for collaboration between nature photographers and scientists: “... photographer Daniel Dancer has ... characterised the objectified, sumptuously-lit portraiture that fills so many nature calendars and books as eco-porn. This type of idealised imagery is imbued with a sense that nature is there simply for us to enjoy and that we are excused any moral obligations towards it other than "saving it" for our continued amusement. Scientists can provide the harmony to the photographic melody, in the process finding a voice for the communication of their ideas and concerns.” Benvie continues on to explain the concept and strategy of “photo-lobbying”.
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at August 16, 2005 12:00 AM
Comments
...or read recent comments on all BPotD Entries
Posted by: Salvatore Matteliano at August 16, 2005 9:13 AM
Thanks for posting the photograph. Grasses are much underappreciated, I suppose, because they aren't "showy." Few people are aware of the astonishing variety of grass species and the differences in size, color, shape and size of the flower inflorescence, etc. We all too often overlook things because they don't fit with the prevailing definitions of beauty or grandeur. That is unfortunate. Grasses, despite their often humble appearances, are fascinating (and beautiful) plants.
Matt
Posted by: Matt at August 16, 2005 1:37 PM
Blue grama grass is very drought tollerant and mixed with buffalo grass makes a nice turf. You can plant bulbs in this grass mix and have a sea of color in the late winter and early spring before the grass greens.
Posted by: Donna at August 16, 2005 2:35 PM
Very interesting and thought-provoking discussions of the relation between photography and environmentalism --- at the linked-to article (in Daniel's write-up), and following the links within that article (e.g. http://www.imagesfromtheedge.com/medialibary/).
Posted by: Mary Ann, in Toronto at August 13, 2009 10:22 AM
Please share your comments about the photograph(s) and accompanying write-up. Telling a story about the subject of the photograph(s) is also much appreciated! If you have a gardening question, the best place to ask is on the UBC Botanical Garden Forums. Thank you!
Post a comment
XML Feeds: Atom | RSS 2.0 | RSS 1.0 | What is RSS? | RSS Tools
Botany Photo of the Day and associated images by UBC Botanical Garden staff are licensed under a Creative Commons License. Images and text by non-UBC contributors are copyright the respective photographers / authors (but often have Creative Commons licenses if contributed via Flickr).
About Botany Photo of the Day | Submit Your Photos via Flickr | Submit Your Photos via UBCBG's Discussion Forums
Botany Photo of the Day is a project of the UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research, located in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada. UBC BGCPR is a department of the Faculty of Land and Food Systems within The University of British Columbia.
I know what grass looks like!!??