August 2014 in the Southern Hemisphere

[Lesley Cox]

Another beautiful plant Jeff. You're making some lovely forms in both colour and shape. Keep up the good work.

[Jupiter]

I like the form of that Hellebore Jeff. I must get some more for the garden here, they really do well in our climate and all the ones I have are seedling donated to me from other gardeners so it's a bit of a mixed bag.

Science of colour, now that's a fun topic! Of course you know we're talking about two different things, the electromagnetic spectrum which is completely objective and then colour, which is created in the brain after the stimulation of pigment molecules in cone cells in the retina! Our brains dampen the signals coming from our retinas in an attempt to balance the signal, so our perception of colours changes depending on the light environment we find ourselves and the surrounding colours or the "context". Then there's the cultural element, what we call colours depends on our learned systems for naming them!

To illustrate my point, check out this image - http://www.curiouser.co.uk/illusions/lotto/c.jpg

Looks pretty straight forward right? But did you know that the centre square on the top and the centre square on the front of the cube are the exact same colour? 

[Jeffnz]

Yes have seen the cube before, gloss has the same impact which is why colour matching is as much an art as a science.
If you talk to someone who has had cataract surgery they will tell you how their perception of colour changes post surgery as the presence of cataracts is like looking through a yellow filter. Really interesting to look at a flower after only having one cataract removed, a different colour for each eye.
Hellebores colour is determined by light and temperature, this is why with some colours there is a definite colour variation from year to year.
Cold does intensify dark colours and this could explain why the intensity of darks may see some defined as near black in locations where intense cold occurs pre and at flowering. Dark hellebores that flower over summer are very pale and washed out compared to the same plant flowering at the usual flowering tome.

[Maggi Young]

Colours:
not quite the same thing, but there is also  the effect of  growing or opening flowers under glass rather than outdoors - that can make a large difference to the flower and foliage colour of a plant.

[Jupiter]

Maggi I see this effect of climate in flower colour with my Cerinthe major. The first year I grew it I was blown away by the beautiful blue bracts (leaves?) around the flowers. Since then I've never had it look as good! I'm sure it's exposure to cold or hot or some factor that I haven't pinned down yet. Anyone know what makes Cerinthe colour up? 

[Maggi Young]

Great portrait shot, Jamus.

Anyone know what makes Cerinthe colour up? 

Don't suppose it might be embarrassment? 

[Lesley Cox]

Mine's certainly never been so brilliant as in your portrait Jamus. If I didn't know better (do I know better?) I's think it had visited the Photoshop.

[Jupiter]

HA! I don't think so Maggi... It's flowering now in the garden but looking very green at the moment. I'll watch it closely and see if any colour change coincides with any external factors... I can't imagine how one might embarrass a plant, especially a Boraginaceae. They aren't exactly shrinking violets! 

[Lesley Cox]

To illustrate my point, check out this image - http://www.curiouser.co.uk/illusions/lotto/c.jpg

Looks pretty straight forward right? But did you know that the centre square on the top and the centre square on the front of the cube are the exact same colour? 

?

[Jupiter]

Lesley, no I didn't photoshop that image, apart from general contrast and brightness and sharpening. I didn't accentuate the colour, it really was that brilliant! I think perhaps it's heat that does it... I just can't remember.

[Tim Ingram]

I think heat is a definite factor and so many plants from Mediterranean climates are very vivid in colour. This is the same plant on a hot sunny slope as you enter Faversham, self sowed down the bank which is glorious with rock roses and bulbs right through spring into summer. (The other thing is photographing the plant with light cloud cover which improves colour saturation no end. I normally do edit photos a little but haven't touched this one).

[Maggi Young]

Cerinthe colour apart - what a lovely flowering display that is  for passers-by to enjoy at Faversham 

[Tim Ingram]

It is too Maggi (a passing shower stops play at the moment). The whole bank is lovingly cared for by a group of volunteers and sponsered by the local pub! Anyone walking along the path below from now on should be able to pick up a whole lot of Cerinthe seed. It was a minor celebrity in the world of horticulture maybe a decade or more ago in the UK and it is really worth that status - a great plant.

[Lori S.]

Maggi I see this effect of climate in flower colour with my Cerinthe major. The first year I grew it I was blown away by the beautiful blue bracts (leaves?) around the flowers. Since then I've never had it look as good! I'm sure it's exposure to cold or hot or some factor that I haven't pinned down yet. Anyone know what makes Cerinthe colour up? 

Mine's certainly never been so brilliant as in your portrait Jamus. If I didn't know better (do I know better?) I's think it had visited the Photoshop.

What Jupiter shows is pretty much the normal, un-altered colour for Cerinthe major 'Purpuracens' so far as I have seen it...??  Here's a crappy photo but one can perhaps get the drift from it:
 

EDIT:  I should add, though, that Jupiter's shot is a very clear and beautiful photo! 

[Jupiter]

Yes! The photos from Tim and Lori are just what I saw and what I expect from the plant! It doesn't always deliver though. Last year they were a bit insipid so we'll see what this year brings.

I know what I'll do. It's just started flowering so I'll take a picture this weekend, and one every Saturday through the season. I'll post them all up in a thread with notes about the weather and we can all see how they change through the season.   

Tim I love the pink and white drift below the Cerinthe, very effective and an excellent planting scheme for a hot climate, like ours.