When a person has lived in close proximity to the equator for over 25 years, as I have, they are easily amazed when encountering temperate rain forest flora. Vancouver's Stanley Park is flush with floral beauty.
The Rhododendrons were wet from a morning shower.
A small platoon of Rhododendron stamen surprises the morning.
Rhododendron flower clusters begin as a bud.
The path I followed was often lined with a froth of pink.
The pink froth array came in many varieties.
Rare white Rhododendrons could be seen here and there.
The wet forest floor hid some wet yellow blooms.
What is going on here? What is the ecological niche and counterpart of these magnificent reproductive parts?
Purple Chrysanthemums blossoms begin as these green bud clusters . . .
. . . and progress through this adolescent stage.
All of the forests of the Pacific Northwest of North America are completely colonized by the ubiquitous fern. Stanley Park is no exception.
Not every flower one encounters in these environs is neat, tidy, symmetrical . . .
. . . or friendly.