A couple of weeks ago I posted photographs of flowers of our Cosmos ‘Candy Stripe’. They were showing very little of the bright pink markings on the edges of the petals that they’re grown for. While I enjoy having variety among the flowers that come up from seed, I was hoping that they would show some of the ‘expected’ markings.
As you can see from the top photo, the flowers are becoming much closer to having the pink edge all the way around each white petal. They are now much more like those illustrated on seed-packets and adverts. The flowers are very different to the others in our garden, most of which have solid-coloured petals.
I also hoped that there would be some of the darker flowers with pale pink petals surrounded by the darker pink edge. I’m delighted to be able to show you that yes, I now have those opening too.
Photographing these was a bit tricky because it’s been breezy here for a while. It’s a matter of trying to choose a moment when the wind dies down to press the shutter button…not easy, haha! So I should really pick some of these and photograph them indoors – much better for getting clear detail. That might not be soon, though, because there is so much to do in the garden right now. But it is lovely to be able to enjoy these flowers while I’m working. It makes life feel good!
You can read my previous post about cosmos here: https://annmackay.blog/2021/08/01/not-as-expected-variations/
Ann Mackay: Inspired by Nature 
Very pretty petals! Lovely photos Ann, a smile for each 🙂 🙂
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Thank you Liz – I’m very glad to make you smile! 🙂
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They are gorgeous and you managed to capture them so well, Ann!!
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Thank you Indira! I enjoyed photographing them but I had to be fairly patient about it as it was quite breezy. It’s been like that for a few days, so photography has been a bit limited!
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Breeze is such a issue, especially when the flower has a long stem. I sometimes wonder whether getting up close churns up the breeze when it is coming from behind us. I’m glad you had some picotees and the one with the paler middle is pretty too.
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Yes, if it’s breezy, photography gets difficult. Luckily it’s not usually too bad here. I am waiting to see how the rest of the cosmos develop – every one is a little different. 🙂
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Both certainly are unusual, and very pretty. I’m glad your patience is being rewarded!
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The flowers should keep coming well into the autumn if I remember to keep them deadheaded – so there should be more opportunities for photos. 🙂
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Beautiful blossoms, Ann. And the breeze making the petals contort themselves a little only added character.
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They do have very wiggly petals! There was a bee on the flower in the top pic just a few moments before but it didn’t stay long enough to have it’s photo taken. It did look rather funny winding it’s way through those petals. 🙂
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I love these Cosmos flowers – they are beautiful! Wish I could see all your flowers right now – I bet it is gorgeous!
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Thanks Syd! There are lots of patches of bright colour around the garden but they change quite quickly – makes me only too aware how fast the summer is disappearing! (But an excuse to look for more late colour…)
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It does seem like this summer is flying past.
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That Cosmos was well worth the wait to see the lovely bordering. Beautiful specimen beautifully photographed, Ann.
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Thanks Steve! I’m glad of all the flowers in the garden right now but I’m also craving some different ones to photograph. We still haven’t got into a habit of going out and about much. (Which means I’m photographing mostly the same plants as last year.) Thank goodness for annuals!
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I think that breeze on the petals turned a rather pretty flower into a very beautiful and interesting photo. I love cosmos.
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Thanks Jill! For some reason the cosmos petals have become rather curled – maybe because it was so dry for a while. (So I wonder if that will change, now that we’ve had some rain.) It certainly gives them a bit of extra character. 🙂 I love them too – they are so curvy and elegant to photograph.
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