The snapdragon is one of my favorite flowers. Today, as I made my rounds in Pacifica, California, I saw their cheery countenances all over the place - in front of businesses, gracing small ocean front cottages, in more formal plantings of expensive residences. I got out of my car, with my ever present trusty camera and took a few photographs.
Antirrhinum is a genus of plants more familiar to us as snapdragons. This name arose because it is reputed to look like a dragon whose mouth opens and closes when the side of the flower is squeezed ( creating a snap ). This is why it is a favorite of children who love to play with them. Adult supervision is important, however, because all parts of the plant are toxic!
Snapdragons are annual plants in cool areas but they are self seeding and will come back year after year. There are dwarf varieties as well as varieties that grow to two feet. They come in most colors but blue. Snapdragons prefer full sun and are excellent for bouquets and cut flowers.
All photos are the property of Carmen Henesy and may not be reproduced without her permission.
I am participating in Jenny Matlock's Alphabe Thursday. Check there for more wonderful posts!
Hi Carmen! Lovely shots!!
ReplyDeleteSorry for the absence, but my computer broke down and I’ll be waiting a month for it to be fixed… ;-( Anyhow, I left you a post on the suburbs of Ephesus for you to enjoy. Have a great weekend!!
I love the too!! Great photos!!!
ReplyDeletehughugs
I love Snapdragons! Wonderful photos!
ReplyDeletewhat gorgeous pics, love how they look like they are a bit hairy :D
ReplyDeleteSnapdrgons were my Mom's favorite flower as well. They are so charming. Beautiful shots.
ReplyDeleteWhat gorgeous pictures of snapdragons! I like this color!
ReplyDeleteGreat writing! Come check my blog out :)
ReplyDeletehttp://youdidwhaaat.blogspot.com/
:)
Beautiful shots you got of them. I love, love the color. Great S post.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea they actually snapped. Love the macros. Nice S post.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pink snapdragons, Carmen! The close-ups with those fuzzy are superb..
ReplyDeleteSTUNNING!!! Great S post!!!
ReplyDeleteOh! So that's what they look like. I planted some but the didn't come up.
ReplyDeleteHi Carmen, thanks for dropping by my blog. Your photos are great; the flowers are beautiful. God Bless.
ReplyDeletelove your macros of the snapdragons Carmen, I did not know the name before, now something I have learned from you. hope you feel better soon.
ReplyDeleteThe winter was so mild that my snapdragons stayed green straight through. I wonder if they'll flower this year?
ReplyDeleteLovely photos of the snapdragons! It was so neat how you got closer and closer.....did not know they were toxic! I have taught both my kids how to "open and close" their mouths. They are grown so I guess it was o.k. I learned something new today from you!
ReplyDeleteCarmen, I love snapdragons, too! I didn't realize they were toxic either...good to know...my Grands love them and will even thread them onto string to make leis out of them.
ReplyDeleteYour use of your macro lense on these photos is incredible Carmen!
Thanks for this artful stop on our little journey through Alphabe-Thursday's Letter "S"!
A+
Oh how beautiful! snap dragons have always been a fave ... i think because we used to play with their little mouths as children!
ReplyDeleteTrotter - I envy you all these travels but, at least, I am living vicariously and seeing lovely places! Thanks for inviting me along!
ReplyDeleteMy poetry book - Life's Journey by Carmen Henesy - is out on Amazon
( Poems about the things that have been important to me in my journey through life, some humorous, some sad, some that may have meaning to you as well )
http://www.amazon.com/Lifes-Journey-1-Carmen-Henesy/dp/1451547366/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274652997&sr=1-1
Donna - I like snapdragons because of the huge color variety and because they grow in so many different heights! I wonder if they are disease resistant because they weren't shorn down like the pansies that were planted in front of them!
ReplyDeleteAt 65, I've done it! My poetry book - Life's Journey by Carmen Henesy - is out on Amazon!
( Poems about the things that have been important to me in my journey through life, some humorous, some sad, some that may have meaning to you as well )
http://www.amazon.com/Lifes-Journey-1-Carmen-Henesy/dp/1451547366/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274652997&sr=1-1
Linda - I thought the snapdragon photos, especially the macros, came out very well...I didn't even realize they had those fuzzy little hair-like structures.
ReplyDeletelaterg8r - I have had that camera for three years and never really read the manual. I just discovered that macro setting. I couldn't believe the "hairs" on the snapdragon!
ReplyDeleteAt 65, I've done it! My poetry book - Life's Journey by Carmen Henesy - is out on Amazon!
( Poems about the things that have been important to me in my journey through life, some humorous, some sad, some that may have meaning to you as well )
http://www.amazon.com/Lifes-Journey-1-Carmen-Henesy/dp/1451547366/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274652997&sr=1-1
Poetic Shutterbug - I am wondering what else my camera can do. It will probably fall apart before I really read the manual. I thought these macro shots were so interesting.
ReplyDeleteMumsy - I am really partial to this hot pink/
ReplyDeletefuschia/magenta color myself.
Wow, such vivid color. It's one of my favorite plant colors.
ReplyDeleteI tried looking for a definitive answer about the toxicity of snapdragons. Some sites said yes, some no. The California Poison Control site said it was safe. I remember doing a similar search about poinsettias after reading that they were poisonous and found that most sources said it was only toxic in extraordinarily high doses, and that since it was such a bitter plant y;u'd be hard-pressed to consume enough to hurt yourself.
Beautiful pics! Also had no idea they were toxic. Good to know!
ReplyDeleteYour pictures are amazing! I love snapdragons also, but have never tried growing them.
ReplyDeleteYou Did Whaaat?! - thanks for stopping by. I'll check out your blog!
ReplyDeleteViki - I enjoyed writing this post and thought the pictures, with the macros, were good. I love this color, too!
ReplyDeleteAt 65, I've done it! My poetry book - Life's Journey by Carmen Henesy - is out on Amazon!
( Poems about the things that have been important to me in my journey through life, some humorous, some sad, some that may have meaning to you as well )
http://www.amazon.com/Lifes-Journey-1-Carmen-Henesy/dp/1451547366/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274652997&sr=1-1
Cheryl - I've had my camera for three years now and this was the first time I used the macro setting...I'm just a little slow reading my manual!!
ReplyDeleteIcy BC - I bought my camera at Costo 9n 3/07 - never really read the manual thoroughly and didn't realize it had macro capability! It has such a good optical and digital zoom. I was looking at the manual, finally, and saw the macro setting so I'll use it more!
ReplyDeleteYou have convinced me to buy them. I have a bare section in my garden and was wondering what to plant. Self seeding sounds great! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteAnne-Marie
Coralie Cederna Johnson - thanks for visiting my blog...glad you enjoyed "Snapdragons" - come again!
ReplyDeleteJulie Schuler - I don't do any gardening, sadly. These pictures were taken at an apartment complex near my home!
ReplyDeleteAt 65, I've done it! My poetry book - Life's Journey by Carmen Henesy - is out on Amazon!
( Poems about the things that have been important to me in my journey through life, some humorous, some sad, some that may have meaning to you as well )
http://www.amazon.com/Lifes-Journey-1-Carmen-Henesy/dp/1451547366/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274652997&sr=1-1
Carmen Araneta - good to see you here! I'm happy you like the snapdragons!
ReplyDeletebetchai - I haven't gardened myself in years but, when I did, I always had snapdragons. They were so nice as cut flowers!
ReplyDeleteI'm on Septra for ten days, then have some diagnostic studies scheduled and a consult with a vascular surgeon. Hopefully, I will NOT need any kind of surgery!
At 65, I've done it! My poetry book - Life's Journey by Carmen Henesy - is out on Amazon!
( Poems about the things that have been important to me in my journey through life, some humorous, some sad, some that may have meaning to you as well )
http://www.amazon.com/Lifes-Journey-1-Carmen-Henesy/dp/1451547366/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274652997&sr=1-1
Pondside - it would be awful to have snapdragons that didn't flower...defeats the whole purpose.
ReplyDeleteAt 65, I've done it! My poetry book - Life's Journey by Carmen Henesy - is out on Amazon!
( Poems about the things that have been important to me in my journey through life, some humorous, some sad, some that may have meaning to you as well )
http://www.amazon.com/Lifes-Journey-1-Carmen-Henesy/dp/1451547366/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274652997&sr=1-1
mrs c - it amazes me how many flowers are toxic or poisonous. I know, when I lived in Florida, the oleandars, planted along the causeway between Tampa and Clearwater, were responsible for a death periodically. Signs were posted but, sometimes, people would use a branch to roast their hot dogs....not smart.
ReplyDeleteAt 65, I've done it! My poetry book - Life's Journey by Carmen Henesy - is out on Amazon!
( Poems about the things that have been important to me in my journey through life, some humorous, some sad, some that may have meaning to you as well )
http://www.amazon.com/Lifes-Journey-1-Carmen-Henesy/dp/1451547366/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274652997&sr=1-1
Jenny - what a great idea, snapdragon leis!
ReplyDeleteSecret agent woman sent me this post: I tried looking for a definitive answer about the toxicity of snapdragons. Some sites said yes, some no. The California Poison Control site said it was safe. I remember doing a similar search about poinsettias after reading that they were poisonous and found that most sources said it was only toxic in extraordinarily high doses, and that since it was such a bitter plant y;u'd be hard-pressed to consume enough to hurt yourself. So......
At 65, I've done it! My poetry book - Life's Journey by Carmen Henesy - is out on Amazon!
( Poems about the things that have been important to me in my journey through life, some humorous, some sad, some that may have meaning to you as well )
http://www.amazon.com/Lifes-Journey-1-Carmen-Henesy/dp/1451547366/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274652997&sr=1-1
Jo - I've loved snapdragons, as well, since my childhood days.
ReplyDeleteAt 65, I've done it! My poetry book - Life's Journey by Carmen Henesy - is out on Amazon!
( Poems about the things that have been important to me in my journey through life, some humorous, some sad, some that may have meaning to you as well )
http://www.amazon.com/Lifes-Journey-1-Carmen-Henesy/dp/1451547366/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274652997&sr=1-1
secret agent woman - interesting info about the plant's toxicity. I'd always heard the poinsietta was dangerous as well. I know the oleander is....when I lived in Florida, there were often incidents of poisoning and, even a couple of deaths, at the hospital where I worked.
ReplyDeleteAt 65, I've done it! My poetry book - Life's Journey by Carmen Henesy - is out on Amazon!
( Poems about the things that have been important to me in my journey through life, some humorous, some sad, some that may have meaning to you as well )
http://www.amazon.com/Lifes-Journey-1-Carmen-Henesy/dp/1451547366/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274652997&sr=1-1
A 2 Z - well, good for you, I'm sure the snapdragons will really add to your garden!
ReplyDeleteAt 65, I've done it! My poetry book - Life's Journey by Carmen Henesy - is out on Amazon!
( Poems about the things that have been important to me in my journey through life, some humorous, some sad, some that may have meaning to you as well )
http://www.amazon.com/Lifes-Journey-1-Carmen-Henesy/dp/1451547366/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274652997&sr=1-1
Wombat Central - thanks for coming by!! My snapdragons drew a lot of visitors.
ReplyDeleteChristy - come back again. It's nice have you visit my blog. Pleased you liked my snapdragons.
ReplyDeletebeautiful photos! I love snapdragons, especially as a kid :o) I would pick them from my grandma's garden and make them snap open and shut :o)
ReplyDeleteBlessings & Aloha!
I'm finally have some free time and able to read more S posts :o) I'd love for you to stop over :o)
Personalized Sketches and Sentiments - How nice of you to stop by! The funniest story I heard about the snapdragons is that Jenny Matlock's grandkids make leis out of them!
ReplyDeleteMy poetry book - Life's Journey by Carmen Henesy - is out on Amazon
( Poems about the things that have been important to me in my journey through life, some humorous, some sad, some that may have meaning to you as well )
http://www.amazon.com/Lifes-Journey-1-Carmen-Henesy/dp/1451547366/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274652997&sr=1-1