The Flower Within

[AlanLichty]

I was editing an image of a really dark purple hydrangea yesterday when I noticed a small feature behind the petals that looked a lot like a small flower. I ran back out to get a shot that showed this better and it turns out there really is a flowering structure behind the primary flowers I have been looking at all along. These are Mophead Hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) and it's the inner flower that is fertile and the outer showy flower is actually sterile. I have been looking at these flowers on my next door neighbor's property just outside my garage door for 27 years now and never had a clue this inner flower even existed.

C&C always welcome.

 

[MonikaC]

Interesting background on the hydrangea. Does that mean that the showy sterile flowers are to protect the inner one?

 

[Jameel Hyder]

How interesting. I am going to look at these very differently from now on

 

[AlanLichty]

Interesting background on the hydrangea. Does that mean that the showy sterile flowers are to protect the inner one?

Thanks Monika - I honestly have no clue what the answer to your query is but Wikipedia did note that this is a hybridized variant and this dual flower arrangement isn't really present in the wild plants.

 

[AlanLichty]

How interesting. I am going to look at these very differently from now on

Thanks Jameel - me too. This plant is less than 10ft. from the side door of my garage and I have been walking past it for over 27 years without noticing this before

 

[Beth]

love the details. interesting info about the flowers.

 

[AlanLichty]

love the details. interesting info about the flowers.

Thanks - I originally grabbed a shot of this bloom head just for the color and didn't spot the inside flowers until I was processing it. I ran back out to shoot it again once I spotted the hidden blooms so I could get a better view of its dual life.

 

[JimFox]

Wow! What a very cool find!

 

[AlanLichty]

Wow! What a very cool find!

Thanks Jim - my view of hydrangeas has now been changed forever.