Brugsmania CU Blossoms - P.J. Ciener Botanical Garden 9/19/2016

Brugsmania( Angel Trumpet Plant) blossoms are interesting blossoms to photograph. In NC, you need to winter over the plants in a garage.  Normally, you see blossoms hanging down.  I like seeing up inside the blossom or holding it to capture a different view.   I took these at P.J. Ciener Botanical Garden, Kernersville, NC.  It is a new small community garden within the last 5-10 years and areas are still being developed.  Taken with Nikon P 600.  Edited in PSE 11   They also have "Lunch and Learn" series with presentations by Adrienne Rothling, the Gardem Curator, or famous gardneners.   I purchased a Miss Elizabeth Ornamental Ginger Lily at their annual plant sale in May.  Today I saw some in the garden but they were past peak.  
For more information about the cultivar:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brugmansia

Agave with Cacti & Autumn Crocus Blooms- P J. Ciener Botanical Garden

Yesterday I took my husband, Jack, to see the P.J.Ciener Botanical Garden, Kernersville, NC.  It is handicapped accessible, but he had never been there before.  Not as much blooming there this time of year, They have some areas in the parking lot with cacti that will survive our winters here in Greensboro, NC..   I love Agave plants but I wanted to capture more of the surrounding plants and include the blue sky with some clouds. Autumn starts in a few days and there were some Autumn Crocus in bloom.   These are the kind that you can harvest the stamens for saffron, but these bulbs take a few years before you can harvest the flowers.  Taken with my Nikon P600.  Minor editing in PSE 11.  

Cardinal Flower in a Field & Close Up of Top Blossoms

I love the Cardinal Flower (Lobelia Cardinalis)  The bloom is seen in August and hummingbirds love them for nectar.  The left image was taken at  the Greensboro Arboretum or a field, The right image is from a different angle and close up of the top blossom.  It starts blooming from the base up.  The background for the image on the right is my concrete driveway behind.  I have 5 plants at the base of my mailbox. Editing done with PSE 11.  Left image has vignette applied.,  I probably could have cropped the right image to a square and done a circle black frane but because not much space at the top desided to keep it off center.

Milkweed Flowerhead in Bloom

My neightor had several native milkweed blooming in July.  The last couple weeks they have had seed heads with the milkweed insects but do not like to take pictures of those. Then the new neighbors just chopped them down.  Very sad about that since this is the milkweed the Monarch butterfly like.  I did get one pod with seed heads and will try to see if I can photograph it to post.
I will have to wait for a less windy day  I do have a Mexican Butterfly Weed in my yard but have not seen any butterflies on it.