Agapanthus, Cape lily or Love flower.
This image is made with the vintage lens Aus Jena DDR T 2.8/50mm.
The Agapanthus is a South African genus of perennial plants in the garlic family (Alliaceae), although the genus is also catalogued by some under the 'Amaryllidaceae'.
The name Agapanthus comes from the Greek: 'Agape' means love and 'Anthos' means flower, therefore sometimes called 'love flower'. In English this special plant is also called 'lily of the Nile', perhaps because it grows there (as well as on the island of Madeira, the Canary Islands, New Zealand and Australia) in the wild. However, all varieties of agapanthus originate from South Africa, the species from the colder regions usually grow on mountain slopes, are deciduous and more resistant to the cold in our climate.
The Agapanthus or African lilies have fleshy tuberous roots and long narrow fleshy leaves. The beautiful long flower stems bear bell-shaped or tube-shaped flowers (blue, white, violet, pastel shades of blue) and these usually bloom in our climate zone from June to August. The flowers are often used as cut flowers and the beautiful seed pods are sought after for dried flower arrangements. The beautiful violet-blue hues of some cultivars are caused by the substance Anthocyanin; the sunnier the plant, the more of this substance it will produce.
Ellen Driesse-Pladdet, born and raised in beautiful Zeeuws-Vlaanderen close to the beach and dunes, grew up in the middle of the nature of Zeeland's countryside. A nature lover who enjoys everything Mother Nature has to offer and treats it with respect.
I've been photographing since I could hold a..
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