Purple Clematis Flower

The wind chill factor was -13°F when I walked the dogs this morning, so for this post I thought I’d revisit a photograph from warm, colorful August.

My mother’s gardens are a rich source of flora-based subject matter every summer, and this past August was no exception. She works at a nursery and the family theory is that her primary reason for working there is to get a discount on plants and flowers. Whatever the reason, the end result is that my parents’ house in North Dakota is awash with interesting and beautiful plants when we visit every summer.

Below is a photogenic example of some of her handiwork, a purple clematis. The genus clematis is a climbing plant, and grows like a vine on fences, trellises and other plants. This lovely specimen was growing along the ground, which provided some protection from the slight breeze that evening, which makes macro photography easier (but harder on the knees!).

It’s only January and I’m already anxious for spring!