October 2006 Photo Competition DISCUSSION THREAD

Rodders, just to show you HOW difficult this month's comp has been, here's one of mine I'm not going to enter :D

Weigela

 

I love it.You Frogy set such a high standard for yourself and that is no exeption.

 

Isn't it a competition? :confused:
I'll take the camera to work tomorrow and see what's about.

 

Only if you're innit to winnit :D

 

:D Yep it's all good fun! The standard is so high both technically and artistically that it really does makes you look hard at what's going on down the tube and how you can improve the shot or compose it differently and it's fantastic to see how everyone interprets each month's theme.

Long may it continue.

 

The voting is the worst bit as they are all so good..still its just fun ..And its nice to see everyones photos..

 

My photography's definately improving because of the comp, although I'm far from everyone elses standard still. I enjoy entering just for the fun and now find myself driving past something thinking 'that'd make a great photo' so it can't be bad.
But I'm with WF on this one - the voting is the hardest bit by far, and this month's no exception!! So difficult to choose 3.....

 

Agree with you Windy - I have spent the last couple of weeks watching leaves in any shape or form - hubby thinks Ive gone mad (Thought I already had!!)

I like a bit of competition but would be terrified if I happened to win and had to choose a new theme :eek:

 

WOW Strongy and Hornbeam - wonderful

 

love the nasturtium and raindrop, HB!

 

Naturtium leaves and those of ladies mantle have a strange abilitiy to repel water and turn them into globules. Don't quite know how it works because the leaves don't seem to be oily. Natural water repellent?

 

The dew on the ladies mantle is magical as dew was a much prized ingredient of the alchemists,,and here on the ladies mantle is a accessible source of dew so thats why they called it alchemilla which means the little alchemist.
Their is a dip in the leaves where the moisture gets trapped..

 

Lupins do it too - love your reasons, WF!

 

Thanks dendrobium its not a reason though its fact as plants were named from signs and symbols.."Well the ones i like were " !! As i am not keen on man made plants..
I too love your nastertium hornbeam it just looks fresh and lush..

 

WF is right. The old plant names had meaning - both the popular names and the Latin.

Alchemilla vulgaris is the wild Lady's Mantle and in Britain it is confined to northern parts. Alchemilla mollis is the garden plant and was brought to us from the Carpathian mountains. The word "mollis" is Latin meaning soft and refers to the soft, slightly hairy leaves which repel the water droplets.

The lobed leaves look like cloaks that fold up at night and catch the dew on their soft hairs. Plant-dew was highly valued by early herbalists and this made Alchemilla prized as a cure for wounds, infertility and impotence. The alchemists also required the purest dew for turning metals into gold - hence the name "Alchemilla" meaning "little alchemist" as WF says. Such a powerful and magical herb just had to be Christianised and in the Middle Ages it was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and named "Our Lady's Mantle"

Other plants such as Lady's Smock have nothing to do with "Our Lady", but were used for women's ailments. Sometimes to ease menstruation, ensure fertility or procure an abortion. Lady's Bedstraw is aromatic and was simply used to stuff the mattresses of women awaiting childbirth.