Floral Friday: Foxgloves

Yesterday I stopped of to take photos at Cornwall Park.  The sun was quite low and strong.  There weren’t many plants left, a few delphiniums and these foxglove.  I was shooting blind as I was shooting into the sun.

Here is some info from Wikipedia –

Digitalis (/ˌdɪdʒɨˈteɪlɨs/^[2] or /ˌdɪdʒɨˈtælɨs/^[3]) is a genus of about 20 species of herbaceous perennials, shrubs, and biennials commonly called foxgloves. This genus was traditionally placed in the figwort family Scrophulariaceae, but recent phylogenetic research has placed it in the much enlarged family Plantaginaceae.^[1] This genus is native to western and southwestern Europe,^[4] western and central Asia, Australasia and northwestern Africa. The scientific name means “finger-like” and refers to the ease with which a flower of Digitalis purpurea can be fitted over a human fingertip. The flowers are produced on a tall spike, are tubular, and vary in colour with species, from purple to pink, white, and yellow. The best-known species is the common foxglove, Digitalis purpurea. This biennial plant is often grown as an ornamental plant due to its vivid flowers which range in colour from various purple tints through various shades of light gray, and to purely white. The flowers can also possess various marks and spottings.

The first year of growth of the common foxglove produces only the stem with its long, basal leaves. During the second year of the plant’s life, a long, leafy stem from 50 to 255 centimeters tall grows atop the roots of healthy plants.

The larvae of the moth the “foxglove pug” consume the flowers of the common foxglove for food. Other species of Lepidoptera eat the leaves, including lesser yellow underwing.

The term digitalis is also used for drug preparations that contain cardiac glycosides, particularly one called digoxin, extracted from various plants of this genus.

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The Spirit of Napier

Good morning from a cool but sunny Hastings morning.

Yesterday the Art Deco festival started.  I did go over to Napier but wasn’t dressed up for it. I had to do something else instead.  But of course I took my new camera with me – Socks is a very photogenic cat.

On the way home I stopped at this statue of the Spirit of Napier. Funnily enough I have never bothered to take photos of it.  Maybe it is because it is always there.  I don’t know.  But this time I made a point of taking photos of her.  Here is some info:

The 3.6 metre column overlooks the southern portion of Napier’s Marine Parade.

The pavement and sheltering wall form a half circle: the column supporting the sculpture is surrounded by a moat and the area in front has two large stone seats facing seawards.

The work of Hungarian – born Auckland artist Frank Szirmay, it represents Napier rising from the ashes of the 1931 earthquake. It also shows the prosperity won in Napier since the earthquake. The statue, standing in the Gilray Reserve, was given to Napier by the late Dr. Thomas Gilray, a former superintendent of the Hospital.

Finance was provided from the Gilray Estate $8,000, a donation from Mr L.E. Harris (now Sir Lewis) – Brooklands $5,000, and $14,000 contribution from subdivisions set aside for expenditure on public reserves.

The centrepiece was lifted into place on 7 December 1971, but was not unveiled until December 22 of that year.

150 people attended the ceremony and the chairman of the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council, Mr W.N. Sheat, of Wellington, unveiled the statue.

The Mayor of Napier at that time, Sir Peter Tait said the sculpture had been aptly named and depicted the rebirth of the city.

http://www.ahuriri-rotary.org.nz/spirit/spirit.html

I think she is supposed to be facing the sea, but she is facing the city.

As to my beading – I am still at it.  I am onto the last stretch so I will catch up with all the other blogs later.

So far I have beaded about 20,000 beads.  And they are size 11 which is small. It will be good to get the table back again – there are beads everywhere.  It will look good when it is finished.  I will post a photo of me in a finished dress.

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