Bauhinia Monandra (Pink Orchid Tree) Flower Cluster

'Bauhinia Monandra (Pink Orchid Tree) Flower Cluster

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'Bauhinia Monandra (Pink Orchid Tree) Flower Cluster'
by Kerryn Madsen-Pietsch ©2013 Photography

Prints available at my RedBubble Gallery

I am finally seeing a sparse one or two isolated cluster groups of these lovely pink orchid tree (Dwarf Bauhinia monandra) flowers blossoming in our rural home garden, near Innisfail, Far North Queensland, Australia.

Unique flower features

• Butterfly-like
• Every cluster appears unique in composition
• The Dwarf Bauhinia Monandra flowers open first as red/rose with yellow tips
  then quickly change to a very sweet pink, then hold the pink
• A rare variety ~ develops pink orchid-like flowers with red blotches or dots, the uppermost one splotched with deeper red, yellow or yellow-margined
• The petals are spreading, each about 2.5 – 4 cm long

Tree’s characteristic features

• Small, rounded-crowned tree with smooth gray bark.
• Twin lobed leaves which are 4 to 6 inches across and cleft almost to the middle, giving the leaf the shape of a hoof print.
• Native of Burma

Since the recent late wet season’s few days of heavy rainfall (delivered by Ex Tropical Cyclone Oswald last week in January) a couple more have bloomed, but they are only still appearing in very limited quantities. Perhaps our tropical soil is not acidic enough but the tree plants are still relatively young!
I am observing their progress with keen interest.

Camera/Shoot Details
Handheld Pentax K-5 II s Lens DA* 50-135
1/100s@ f/2.8, ISO 200, FL.135mm
Date – Jan.13, 2013 Time – 18.04.11
Raw file ~ Processed/edited via CS2.

 RedBubble Card 

Image ~ 'Bauhinia Monandra (Pink Orchid Tree) Flower Cluster'
by Kerryn Madsen-Pietsch ©2013 Photography

Fine Art and Photographic Prints
available at my RedBubble Gallery

Thanks for visiting.

Wild Rainbow Lorikeets Feeding ~ Innisfail, FNQ, AU.

My first blog for the New Year 2013 and my first published 2013 photographic image 'Wild Rainbow Lorikeets Feeding ~ Innisfail, FNQ, AU.' which originates from my first 2013 photographic shoot session with some new photographic equipment attained through the disguise of that dear generous mythical, magical creature called 'Santa'!  8 )

The FNQ landscape has been pretty much sun parched, greens turning yellowish-brown shades, well up until Christmas Eve when Innisfail finally received a first decent rainfall in months, all of 50mm.  It is a somewhat very mild and slow beginning to our Wet Season which is, by the way, a very welcome change when compared to the dramatic heavy rains and floods experienced in previous December periods ('big wet' example image here).

So even though the tropical heat and humidity prevails at this time of year, we have been enjoying, since Christmas and the New Year, some continual light and moderate showery, often early morning, rains and cooling south-easterly winds and breezes ~ all gratefully received.

Nature and the tropical landscape have been considerably revived. All is indeed looking refreshed with the greens vibrant once more. The growth rate in plants and grass usually soar to new heights during this intense time of year, while I myself try to stay cool and skin dry as much as I possibly can with ceiling or pedestal fans close by! The unpleasantness of Prickly heat, fungal and skin rashes are best to be avoided with all due care taken.  The best time for me to photograph 'outside' is either early morn or late afternoon and even then, more often than not, I'll end up with clothes soaked in perspiration and itchy from mozzie bites depending on the (lack of) breeze and location.

'Wild Rainbow Lorikeets Feeding ~ Innisfail, FNQ, AU.'
by Kerryn Madsen-Pietsch ©2013 Photography

About the image.
In slightly windy conditions some wild Rainbow Lorikeets were spotted (through the lens) clinging to and feeding from the very large pendular inflorescence on a well established Alexandra palm tree (Archontophoenix alexandrae).
Location ~ Innisfail, tropical Far North Queensland, Australia.
Photo Shoot Date ~ Jan.04, 2013.  Time - 18:14:11

*An 'inflorescence' is a cluster of flowers on one or a series of branches, which together make a large showy blossom.

©Kerryn Madsen-Pietsch Fine-Art and Photographic Images

Select from a range of print formats made available

at my RedBubble Gallery

"Attraction" by Kerryn Madsen-Pietsch | Redbubble

Displaying vibrantly under a canopy of leaves in the shade are pendulant bracts of striking red with yellow and green tips of the exotic tropical bloom, in the early flowering stages, of the Heliconia Rostrata (hanging red lobster claw).

The attracted iridescent blue-green beetle species is unknown.

 "Attraction" by Kerryn Madsen-Pietsch | Redbubble:

"Attraction" by Kerryn Madsen-Pietsch ©2012 Photography
Prints available @ Redbubble

Photo taken early November (dry season) in my home backyard garden, near Innisfail, Far North Queensland, Australia.

"Come Closer (Flutterer)" by Kerryn Madsen-Pietsch | Redbubble

 Detail Section of Flutterer

"Come Closer (Flutterer)" by Kerryn Madsen-Pietsch | Redbubble:

Come Closer (Flutterer) by Kerryn Madsen-Pietsch ©2012 Photography | RedBubble

"Coy (Red Torch Ginger)" by Kerryn Madsen-Pietsch | RedBubble

The large Red Torch Ginger is from the ‘Etlingera Ginger’ family.
Photo Location – Home garden near Innisfail, Tropical Far North Queensland, Australia.

Amidst tall green ginger stalks
And lush canopy foliage surrounds
A large exotic torch ginger flower
Nestles coyly
Saturated red pink
Multiple finger-long and waxy tongue-like curled petals
Finely outlined white-tipped edgings defined
Caressed by
Lingering rain droplets
Glistening in the dawn’s sunlight
Clinging
©2012 Kerryn Madsen-Pietsch

Coy (Red Torch Ginger) by Kerryn Madsen-Pietsch Photography ©2012 | Prints available at Redbubble

Original photo taken 31Jan.2012 Time 6:40 AM

There hasn’t been many more of these flowers happening with the continual dry hot humid weather we’ve been having. Since taking this shot, Feb’s 1st-2nd week of extreme heat (reached 36 Cel inside our house one day, [meaning hotter 38-40 outside] when only forecast for 33Cel) with not one thunder storm or drenching rains in our area, the 4-5m tall blue green stem and leaves have been scorching and slowly turning more to green-yellow-brown.

In the 3rd week of Feb, 15-16th saw some reprieve finally with some heavy coastal showers at least, drenching and refreshing the thirsty landscape and cooling temp's down again.

Hope you enjoy this 'macro' version of the flower image.  I certainly never tire of seeing them growing in our large tropical garden.

Thanks for visiting.

"Greeting A New Flame" by Kerryn Madsen-Pietsch | RedBubble

Greeting a new flame kissed with raindrops in the early morning sunrise light. This bulbous green creeper vine plant produces many rich and vibrant flaring ‘fire-flame’ flowers. The vines grow ‘wild’ usually over all other hosting plants in the garden but only during the hot tropical summer months.

"Greeting A New Flame" by Kerryn Madsen-Pietsch | RedBubble:

"Pink and Cream Delights" by Kerryn Madsen-Pietsch | RedBubble

Inspiration from Nature
Early morning 6.14 am December 10th, just after sunrise, clusters of tiny pink buds of a variegated leaved Cordyline terminalis, had commenced flowering. The plant grows in my tropical home garden near Innisfail, Far North Queensland, Australia.


"Pink and Cream Clusters" by Kerryn Madsen-Pietsch | RedBubble:

Pink and Cream Clusters @ Redbubble

Rhythm and Rhyme - Hidden Treasures

Note - This is an edited re-post from 2009-10-28 because Blogger (Google) stuffed up/lost a lot of my previous posted images and now Blogger error malfunctions are not allowing me to update them. 8 (

'Rhythm and Rhyme' by Kerryn Madsen-Pietsch ©2009

The artwork Rhythm and Rhyme was made for the 'Hidden Treasures' Postcard exhibition at the Cairns Regional Gallery (their annual fundraiser) held Oct 23 - Nov.6, 2009. 

Artwork details - Mixed media on gessoed board. Diptych, size 2 x (5" x 7").

Rhythm and Rhyme by Kerryn Madsen-Pietsch, ©2009. Mixed-media, collage on board 

Photo - First night session of the work in progress in my studio gallery.

Work in progress in my studio gallery.

About the 2009 Exhibition
Approximately 105 invited artists were involved with all the works displayed in alphabetical order in single file around the room.  On the finale night Friday Nov 6, the closing silent bid time is at 7.30 pm. The last silent bidder's no. written on the bidding card displayed underneath the work will be the new owner of this work. 50% of the finale bidding amount will be donated to the Gallery.

Generally a fun social finale night though sometimes as witnessed in previous years, is mingled with some hissing and yes, even cat fights amongst friends and complete strangers towards the end, as people desperately try to get a last bid on a favoured artist's work or two, hoping to add to their art collection.

 Rhythm and Rhyme is available in various print formats at my RedBubble Gallery.

 Thanks for visiting.