Look Closer
Meet "Phil"
Posted by Viewfinder (Bradenton, FL, United States) on 10 June 2008 in Plant & Nature and Portfolio.
A look down the throat of this bloomin' philodendron, that is. Say "aaah!"
Marion from Nanaimo, BC, Canada
A great picture, but it's not a philodendron. It's a Cali Lily, so I think you are going to have to change the name from Phil to Lily ;D. Regardless I love it in black and white. If you look back to last week on my blog you will see pictures of philodendruns.
10 Jun 2008 5:48am
@Marion: No, you are well intentioned, but wrong. Learn from me. This is a plant commonly called "giant or tree philodendron." It is also somewhat officially known as "philodendron selloum." I know what plant you thought this is (a calla lily), but it isn't a calla lily. If you could see the whole plant in context, you'd understand. Don't take my word for it, however. Here's a link to a site that sells these giant philodendron plants. And this is a link to a photograph of one. We have them growing in our yard. This, blooming, is what you are looking at here today.
MaryB from Staffordshire, United Kingdom
Wow! what an amazing close up of this incredible flower.
10 Jun 2008 8:57am
Chris from South Jersey, United States
Too funny - it does look like a big tongue that is sticking out in defiance - how rude!!
Great shot - the composition is perfect and it works really well in b&w....
10 Jun 2008 10:12am
@Chris: I thought it reminded me a bit of Mick Jagger.
Michael Skorulski from Cigel, Slovakia
An amazing image and a humorous commentary. A great combination, VF.
10 Jun 2008 11:38am
ManuelaR from Hainburg, Germany
Yes, absolutely right: just like a big tongue... :)
10 Jun 2008 12:14pm
Betsy Barron from Glenmoore, United States
great capture and good imagination, VF!
10 Jun 2008 12:43pm
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
I know no names but gosh I know outstanding photographs , and this is one of them!
10 Jun 2008 3:26pm
Jim Mahan from Glendale, CA, United States
Fantastic macro image! And the B&W conversion really keeps the eye focused on the “tongue”. Thanks for the botany lesson too. At first glance I also thought it was a calla lily, but unlike any I had ever seen. As it happens, this is the first philodendron bloom that I have seen – as far as I can remember. Also love your previous images of this plant.
10 Jun 2008 7:06pm
@Jim Mahan: Jim, thanks for the good words. As a relative newcomer to life in semi-tropical Florida, I'd seen philodendrons of this type elsewhere, but never had I seen one bloom until ours in the back yard did its thing a couple of weeks ago, and "Phil" made his debut.
vu@granby - Gilles Martineau from Granby, Québec, Canada
Fantastic shot and I like your commentary suggesting a throat and a tongue.
10 Jun 2008 9:09pm
Ken McCoy from Orlando-Daytona Beach, FL, United States
It absolutely looks like a mouth - I like the way the tongue really reaches out toward you :)
10 Jun 2008 9:26pm
e. from New York, NY, United States
Great caption. :) Along with a wonderful angle on this photo.
10 Jun 2008 10:18pm
saeed from ahwaz, Iran
great and lovely!! i like the angle! it seems like a duck head that looking stealthy!! ;)
well done indeed!
11 Jun 2008 2:56am
Barbara from Florida, United States
Amazing, it looks so pure. I laughed at your caption.
25 Apr 2009 12:40pm
Panasonic DMC-LS70
1/30 second
F/3.2
ISO 100
45 mm (35mm equiv.)