A tulip bloom closes its petals at evening. New blooms open their petals in sunlight and close as sunlight decreases.
These flowers are native to Asia and grow in dry mountain regions. They were imported to Europe in the middle 16th century and then spread to the US from there on. These are common in the gardens in Utah where the climate and topography suit this bloom very well.
A pair of California quails scan their surroundings in the middle of feeding. Quails are ground feeders and poor fliers, who rely on running to escape danger. Any movement in their vicinity attracts their attention and they scurry off at the smallest signs of danger.
While we admire flowers for their aesthetics, their colors, shapes and aroma all have specific functions. They have evolved to be attractive to pollinators which is necessary for the plants' propagation. The iris bloom shown here is a good example. It has evolved a complex shape and color scheme which attracts insect pollinators. The entrance to the flower is separate from the exit. The pollinating insect that lands on this flower first finds stamens on which it deposits some of the pollen it has collected from previous blooms. The pollen stems on the iris are located at the exit and the insect collects them on its way out to other blooms. This sequence ensures the iris is not pollinated with its own pollen.
Close up of a dandelion seed pod. These are seen as weeds in most lawns but are important to many natural habitat, often jump-starting damaged ecosystems. Their edible leaves are often added to salads.
A pair of California quails feeding in a backyard. The quails are common visitors to many backyards in Southwest US, especially in the suburbs. In summer, they often forage as a pair and usually the male keeps a lookout while the female feeds.
I have tried to capture the delicate color palette and texture of iris petals, highlighted by soft sunlight.
