Clematis

The Clematis, amongst the flowers of Bagatelle, are my favourites. Here are my two best macro shots.

Clematis

There are approximately 300 species of that flower, which is part of ‘the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae’.

Clematis – Bagatelle – Paris – May 2022

‘Their garden hybrids have been popular amongst gardeners, [3] beginning with Clematis × jackmanii, a garden standby since 1862; more hybrid cultivars are being produced constantly. They are mainly of Chinese and Japanese origin.

Most of us know these species as clematis in English, while some know it as traveller’s joy, a name the British invented for their sole use, C. vitalba, by the herbalist John Gerard; virgin’s bower for C. terniflora, C. virginiana, and C. viticella; old man’s beard, one applies to several species with prominent seedheads; leather flower for those with fleshy petals; or vase vine for the North American Clematis viorna.’

And here’s a poem about the Clematis by Alexander Bathgate

The Clematis

Fair crown of stars of purest ray,
Hung aloft on Mapau tree,
What floral beauties ye display,
Stars of snowy purity;
Around the dark-leaved mapau’s head
Unsullied garlands ye have spread. Concealed were all thy beauties rare
’Neath the dark umbrageous shade,
But still to gain the loftiest spray,
Thy weak stem its efforts made;
Now, every obstacle o’ercome,
Thou smilest from thy leafy home.That home secure, ’mid sombre leaves
Yielded by thy stalwart spouse,
Helps thee to show thy fairy crown,
Decorates his dusky boughs:
His strength, thy beauty, both unite
And form a picture to delight.

Fair flower, methinks thou dost afford
Emblem of a perfect wife,
Whose work is hidden from the world,
Till, perchance, her husband’s life
Is by her influence beautified,
And this by others is descried.

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Yann Gourvennec

I'm a photographer and watercolourist. I have practiced photography since childhood and digital photography since 1995. I turned it into my main occupation in 2021. I own a photo studio in Paris, France.
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Je suis photographe et aquarelliste. Je pratique la photographie depuis l'enfance et la photographie numérique depuis 1995. J'en ai fait mon activité principale en 2021. Je possède un studio photo dans le 15e arrondissement de Paris

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