Hepatica 2020

[Carsten]

Dear Koko,
yes, we are a group of four and I´am looking forward to meet you there.
Hope there will be some good pics to post here, fermi 

[KK-Ann Arbor]

Great!  Looking forward to meet you at the show.
Koko

[Herman Mylemans]

The first transsilvanica flower of this year in our garden: Hepatica transsilvanica 'Winterfreude'

[Ingrida]

We had no normal winter this year in Lithuania, so I also have first flower of hepatica X MEDIA AVATAR in my garden 

[Gabriela]

The first transsilvanica flower of this year in our garden: Hepatica transsilvanica 'Winterfreude'

Wow - it stands up to its name Herman, a true winter joy!

[Gabriela]

We had no normal winter this year in Lithuania, so I also have first flower of hepatica X MEDIA AVATAR in my garden 

Avatar has a lovely flower Ingrida.

One of my first H. japonica to flower (in the garage); they receive triple attention than the Hepatica flowering outdoors in late spring

[WSGR]

Gabriela - nice way to start a morning! Would love to know what camera and lens you took the stunner!

[Maggi Young]

Lovely photos  from everyone  - I think one  of the  best  things  about  pictures  of  hepatica flowers  is that we  can see  so much detail in them, at  greatly  enlarged  size  from the  actual size  of these  little  gems!!

Thanks  for  trying  again to load  your  photo, Ingrida 

[Gabriela]

Gabriela - nice way to start a morning! Would love to know what camera and lens you took the stunner!

Thank you WSGR, you may be disappointed to know that I am still using an old Fuji camera, no special lens. I cannot even read out the model nr. anymore!  I have problems letting go of it and desperate that they don't produce anything similar anymore.
Anyone can take good pictures with a normal camera, just needs patience and perseverance.

[Gabriela]

Lovely photos  from everyone  - I think one  of the  best  things  about  pictures  of  hepatica flowers  is that we  can see  so much detail in them, at  greatly  enlarged  size  from the  actual size  of these  little  gems!!

True Maggi, same goes for the Galanthus   It is also that they flower so early when not much is in flower (nothing else here at least) so we are desperate and have more time for 'detailing'.
As for me, I greatly enjoy their foliage as well and when the new leaves start growing I probably take an equal nr. of pictures.

One more to compensate for tonight's temperature: -21C!

[WSGR]

Thank you WSGR, you may be disappointed to know that I am still using an old Fuji camera, no special lens. I cannot even read out the model nr. anymore!  I have problems letting go of it and desperate that they don't produce anything similar anymore.
Anyone can take good pictures with a normal camera, just needs patience and perseverance.

On the contrary, I love old cameras: I have a Samsung PL20 but can't really get this close. The blue one is simply a stunner! The blue is so saturated and rich. My little camera was refurbished when I bought it for £89 and now it can't close properly. Very frustrating, but it lets in a lot of light. I bought a new mirrorless Samsung and I am very disappointed as the close ups are rubbish and on the top of that it is heavy.

Lovely plants and lovely photos, Gabriela!

[Herman Mylemans]

Beautiful pictures Gabriela! You said that your plants are standing in the garage, then you probably also use artificial light.

[Herman Mylemans]

Today some sun! So the Hepatica's react with flowers.
Hepatica nobilis 'Rubra'
Hepatica henryi
Hepatica pyrenaica

[Gabriela]

On the contrary, I love old cameras: I have a Samsung PL20 but can't really get this close. The blue one is simply a stunner! The blue is so saturated and rich. My little camera was refurbished when I bought it for £89 and now it can't close properly. Very frustrating, but it lets in a lot of light. I bought a new mirrorless Samsung and I am very disappointed as the close ups are rubbish and on the top of that it is heavy.

Lovely plants and lovely photos, Gabriela!

Your Helleborus pictures are very nice WSGR, so your camera is not that bad. In any case, one good candidate regarding features like: good close-ups & landscape/and not heavy, would be the Olympus camera the Bulb Despot showed at some point. Don't remember the exact model but there was a featured Bulb log about it.
Maggi will come to the rescue I'm sure

[Gabriela]

Today some sun! So the Hepatica's react with flowers.
Hepatica nobilis 'Rubra'
Hepatica henryi
Hepatica pyrenaica

Always exciting to see your VERY large established clumps Herman!

Yes, I use small LED panels. Last year I bought one in a hurry and then 2 more. I wasn't too convinced they'll be any good but all the Hepaticas grew well until I was able to take them outside.
Right now I bring them in the house almost every day and put them back in the garage in the evening. I don't have many pots so it's not much trouble. This may simulate outdoor conditions temp. wise, I can take nice pictures and hopefully there will be some pollination happening (with my help).

One more picture for one more super-cold night. This one grows very, very slow comparing with the others.