by hankinslawrenceimages | Jun 30, 2010 | Flowers, Liliaceae Family, Wildflowers
One of the highlights of my recent trip to North Carolina was finding and photographing some Gray’s Lilies (Lilium grayi). Found in only three states (Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia), they are listed as endangered in Tennessee and threatened in North Carolina.
(c) 2010 Patty Hankins
My plans for the trip including a hike on the Tanawha Trail off the Blue Ridge Parkway – it is one places where the Gray’s Lilies have been found and late June is one of the times you can find them. Since I knew they might be blooming, throughout my trip I was keeping an eye out along the sides of the road and trails for orange/red lilies – just in case I spotted one elsewhere. You can imagine my surprise as I was driving through the Pisgah National Forest from Carver’s Gap to Rhododendron Gardens to spot a flash of orange out of the corner of my eye. I circled back – just in case – since I knew the Gray’s Lilies are native to the Roan Mountain area. And there on the side of the road – were five separate Gray’s Lilies. Only two were in bloom – the others were not yet blooming but probably would be in just a few days after I saw them. I had a wonderful time photographing the Gray’s Lilies.
(c) 2010 Patty Hankins
Gray’s Lilies generally grow to about 3 feet tall – although they have been known to grow as tall as 8 feet. Each plant has whorls of 4-8 leaves and between 1 -4 nodding flowers. The orange/red flowers with puprle spots flowers are bell-shaped. The petals neither open out like the petals of the Canada Lily nor curve back like the petals of the Turk’s Cap Lily. They bloom in June and July.
(c) 2010 Patty Hankins
Gray’s Lilies grow on the mountain balds of Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia. They need the full sunlight and higher elevations provided in these locations. Their survival is threatened by habitat destruction, over collection, grazing animals and several types of fungal infections. As a state and federally listed species, the Gray’s Lilies should never be dug up from protected areas.
(c) 2010 Patty Hankins
Finding the Gray’s Lilies in the Pisgah National Forest was a wonderful treat. I enjoyed photographing them – and since I didn’t find any on the trail I’d hoped to find them on later in the trip – I was especially glad to have gone back to figure out exactly what that flash of orange I spotted was in the National Forest.
If you’d like to learn more about Gray’s Lilies – some online sites with additional information include
USDA Plant Profile for Gray’s Lily
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Plant Database: Gray’s Lily
USDA GRIN Taxonomy for Plants: Gray’s Lily
Flora of North America: Lilium Grayi
CPC National Plant Collection: Gray’s Lily
by hankinslawrenceimages | Jun 20, 2010 | Flowers
I was sorting through some of the photos I took earlier this spring – and came across a set of wonderful photographs of some Oriental Lilies. The photos were taken at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. I just love all the bright colors and textures in the flowers.
After Eight Lilies
(c) 2010 Patty Hankins
(c) 2010 Patty Hankins
Conca D’Or Lily
(c) 2010 Patty Hankins
Chili Lily
(c) 2010 Patty Hankins
Siberia Lily
(c) 2010 Patty Hankins
Florian lily
(c) 2010 Patty Hankins
So which of these lilies do you like the best? My two favorites from this set are the After Eight Lilies and the Chili Lily – you don’t suppose this has anything to do with the fact that I love bright colors?
by hankinslawrenceimages | Nov 8, 2009 | Flowers
I was looking back at some of the flower photos I’ve taken this year – and realized that there were several photos of various Asiatic Lilies that I’ve never gotten around to posting. I just love all the colors that these lilies come in. Here are a few of the pink ones I’ve photographed in the past few months.
Samur Lily
Samur Lily (c) 2009 Patty Hankins
Canaletto Lily
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
Baywatch Lily
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
Renoir Lilies surrounded by yarrow
Renoir Lilies (c) 2009 Patty Hankins
And finally the Presidente Lily – I know – I’ve posted this one before – but it’s my favorite pink lily 🙂
Presidente Lily (c) 2009 Patty Hankins
by hankinslawrenceimages | Oct 11, 2009 | Flowers, News
Presidente Lilies (c) 2009 Patty Hankins
Presidente Lilies is the BeautifulFlowerPictures.com Photo of Month. This is one of my favorite (and most popular) lily photographs. This cluster of pink and white Presidente lilies was one of those groupings I just had to photograph.
Until October 31 2009, SAVE 20% off the regular prices for Presidente Lilies. The photograph is available in two sizes of gallery-wrapped canvases.
Save $ 20 on the 12X15″ Canvas – regular price $ 100 – October Photo of the Month Price – $ 80.00
Save $ $ 73 on the 20X26″ Canvas – regular price $ 365 – October Photo of the Month Price – $ 292.00
Free shipping to U.S. Addresses for either size photograph.
As with all photographs from BeautifulFlowerPictures.com, The Lotus Pond comes with my Unconditional Happiness Guarantee. You have one year to decide that it is the perfect photograph for you. If it’s not, just return it (in original condition) for a full refund.
by hankinslawrenceimages | Oct 8, 2009 | Flowers
Earlier this week, I spent a few hours photographing at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, VA. One of the unusual flowers I photographed there was a Sinonome Toad Lily(Tricyrtis sinonome). I had no idea what the plant was – fortunately, Green Spring Gardens is really good about putting up identification signs.
A little research on the web revealed that Toad Lilies are originally native to Asia. Most bloom in the fall, and many like the Sinomome Toad Lily I photographed are shade loving plants.
Here’s the view of the flowers that first caught my eye. I thought WOW! what shapes and colors!
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
A couple of closer in and side views of the flowers
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
Another cluster of flowers with several buds that had yet to open
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
And finally – a group of blossoms growing along the stalk with leaves. I’d love to see this with all the buds open and the flowers in bloom.
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
The Sinonome Toad Lily was a wonderful plant to photograph. I’m glad I found it at Green Spring Gardens.
