nature – Page 2 – Shorena Ratiani

China Calandine – a real hero survivor

This lovely plant with lovely bright yellow flowers is China Calandine (or Greater Calandine).

China Calandine. Photo by Shorena Ratiani

It grows everywhere, literally everywhere – on ground, on rocks, anywhere where it can find a little bit of soil.

To me this plant is a real symbol of life – it can even drill into cement to find a place to thrive. China Calandine is a real hero survivor!

I’m also fascinated with the colors of its leaves. Its colors are so different – when it is in full bloom or when it turns to ‘autumn mode’.

The botanical name of China Calandine is Chelidonium majus. It can be found growing wild in almost all European countries, West Asia, North Africa, and North America. The plant prefers dry sunny areas and is often found next to buildings, or thickets.

Greater Calandine is a perennial plant belonging to the poppy family (Papaveraceae). It can grow up to 60 cm in height and the whole plant contains a large amount of yellow that turns orange when it comes into contact with air.

The whole plant is widely used in herbal medicine in many countries. I remember how my grandmother collected and dried them for medical purposes – it was a pity that I never asked what ailments it was believed to cure.

Part of my greater calandine photos in my gallery.

I hope you all have a bright and happy day.

Shorena

P.S. If you have a moment please visit my Check out Check out my painting and drawing portfolio, and Photography pages.

You can also find me here:

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July 5, 2019October 23, 2019 by Shorena Ratiani Categories: Artsy Lifestyle, Flower Photography, Gallery, Nature Photography, photography, seasonsTags: blooming, blooming flowers, blooms, china calandine, Flower Photography, flower photos, flowers, georgia, nature, Nature Photography, photo, photo blog, photo essay, photo of the day, photo walk, photography, photography blog, photos, yellow, yellow flowers

Tree Textures on a Rainy Day

It was raining for several days in Tbilisi. Usually I prefer to be at home looking out at the rainy city from my window but not in summer! I absolutely adore walking in the rain, jumping in puddles and sometimes, when no one is watching, I even dance.

And of course I love taking photographs while people are trying to find a sheltered place to stay dry 😀

It was raining hard enough for people to look at me as if I was crazy.

I was photographing wet tree textures this time.

More photos of wet tree trunks. Their color and character appear so attractive to me and it’s worth getting soaking wet 😀

If you would like to see more interesting texture photos please check out my Texture Photography page.

Check out my painting and drawing portfolio and Photography pages.

You can also find my work here:

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June 29, 2019October 23, 2019 by Shorena Ratiani Categories: Artsy Lifestyle, Gallery, Nature Photography, photographyTags: natural patterns, nature, Nature Photography, patterns, photo blog, photo of the day, photo walk, photography, rain, rainy day, shorena ratiani photography, tree trunk photos, tree trunks, trees, wet tree textures, wet trees 2 Comments

Blooming Spirea

Spirea (or spiraea) comes in several colors but the white flowering shrubs are breathtaking. It typically blooms just before its leaves fully develop.

Spirea are happiest in full sun with good drainage and moisture, but they can also grow in shade.

This easy-growing shrub grows up to six feet tall.

Coming in a range of sizes, colors, and forms, there are plenty of varieties of this hardy, easy to grow shrubs to choose from. Some of the old-fashioned varieties of spirea such as bridal wreath, with its timeless elegance and delicate cascading branches covered in frothy white blooms, have been around for decades. However, the old-fashioned varieties can take a lot of space and look best when not pruned. New varieties work well in suburban yards where colors and size are important.

I found out that Native Americans had various medicinal uses for local spirea species. They used it for abdominal pain and made it into a tea. They also used it for making brooms and even as an ingredient for cooking. 😍

Spirea can be white or different shades of pink. I didn’t find pink ones but I took lots of photos of white ones. I have posted some of them here.

Have a lovely day 💋💋

Shorena

P.S. To see more beautiful flower photos, please check out my
Flower Photo Collection and Nature Photography Page.

If you have a moment please visit my painting and drawing portfolio and look at digital art page as well.

You can also find me here:

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June 17, 2019October 23, 2019 by Shorena Ratiani Categories: Artsy Lifestyle, Flower Photography, Gallery, Nature Photography, photographyTags: blooming, blooming flowers, blooms, Flower Photography, flower photos, flowers, garden, gardening, georgia, nature, Nature Photography, photo, photo blog, photo essay, photo of the day, photo walk, photography, photography blog, photos, shorena ratiani photography, spiarea, spirea, spirea photography, white, white flowers

Bright and Happy Golden Currants

I love everything yellow – it is such a bright, soft and happy color. I especially love yellow flowers. So when I have an opportunity, I always seek them out and photograph them.

I took these photos over a 3 week period when golden currants were flowering. The full name of this plant is ‘Ribes Aureum Golden Currant’.

Golden currants. Photo by Shorena Ratiani

Delicate golden currants in my photo gallery.

I hope you all have a bright and happy day.

Shorena

P.S. To see more beautiful flower photos, please check out my
Flower Photo Collection and Nature Photography Page.

If you have a moment please visit my painting and drawing portfolio and look at digital art as well.

You can also find me here:

Pinterest | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr | WHI

June 12, 2019October 23, 2019 by Shorena Ratiani Categories: Artsy Lifestyle, Flower Photography, Gallery, Nature Photography, photography, seasonsTags: blooming, blooming flowers, blooms, Flower Photography, flower photos, flowers, georgia, golden currant, nature, Nature Photography, photo, photo blog, photo essay, photo of the day, photo walk, photography, photography blog, photos, Ribes Aureum Golden Currant, yellow, yellow flowers 2 Comments

Beautiful Poppies

Is there anyone who doesn’t love the time when poppies bloom? In an imperfect world, I try to seek out perfect moments and the time when poppies cover the fields is one of those moments.

Poppy fields look like impressionist paintings. It’s easy to see where the artists found their inspiration.

Poppies are special flowers for me. When I was a child I loved collecting poppies but I noticed they became sad very quickly so I stopped picking them. I realised that it was better to leave them where they were born. Whenever I feel an urge to pick flowers I think of my ‘childhood poppies’ and stop myself. Cut flowers may look beautiful for a few days but you are watching something beautiful die a premature death. I now never accept flowers as gift.

My poppy picture collection: