As mentioned in an earlier post, I plan to learn
about plant propagation this year. I don’t have a specific course of study in mind,
but want to learn more about plant reproductive morphology; how plants
reproduce, both sexually and asexually; about their pollinators (that’s where the
birds and the bees come in); and how to take advantage of this knowledge to grow
plants. Basically - sex in the garden!
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| Digital microscope with azalea images displayed on a computer monitor |
For Christmas, my husband gave me a digital microscope with
250x magnification from Plugable. Using the microscope, a USB connection, and a viewer running on
my computer, I can zoom in on minuscule flower parts to see incredible detail,
and then take pictures, movies, or time lapse sequences. For very little money,
I can explore the micro world from the comfort of my own home and garden!
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| Azalea leaf and bud |
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| Cutaway of an azalea flower bud |
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| Developing petals and reproductive organs |
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| The stigma, the tip of the pistil that receives pollen |
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Above are some of the close up shots I took of an
azalea leaf and bud in January. I still need to hone my skills, like focusing
and lighting the subject, but you can see the potential. This digital
microscope will definitely be in my toolkit as I take on plant propagation
this year!
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