Azaleas at the Window

by Sarah Loft

Title

Azaleas at the Window

Artist

Sarah Loft

Medium

Photograph - Photograph With Added Texture

Description

This azalea bush was photographed in the courtyard of Union Theological Seminary in New York City.

Per Wikipedia: Azaleas are flowering shrubs in the genus Rhododendron, particularly the former sections Tsutsuji (evergreen) and Pentanthera (deciduous). Azaleas bloom in spring, their flowers often lasting several weeks. Shade tolerant, they prefer living near or under trees. They are part of the family Ericaceae.

Plant enthusiasts have selectively bred azaleas for hundreds of years. This human selection has produced over 10,000 different cultivars which are propagated by cuttings. Azalea seeds can also be collected and germinated.

In Chinese culture, the azalea is known as "thinking of home bush" (sixiang shu) and is immortalized in the poetry of Du Fu.

The azalea is also one of the symbols of the city of São Paulo, in Brazil.

In addition to being renowned for its beauty, the azalea is also highly toxic—it contains andromedotoxins in both its leaves and nectar, including honey from the nectar. Azaleas and rhododendrons were once so infamous for their toxicity that to receive a bouquet of their flowers in a black vase was a well-known death threat.

Note: The watermark will not appear on the print you purchase.

Featured in the Visions of Spring- Glances of Summer group, May 2017.

Featured in the Images That Excite You group, May 2017.

Featured in the 500 Views group, December 2018.

Uploaded

May 20th, 2017

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Viewed 1,708 Times  -  Last Visitor from Norwalk, CT on 04/23/2024 at 9:20 PM

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