‘Blue Moon’ Siberian iris against a backdrop of Astilbe foliage

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Kaleidoscope

I think these might be ‘Black Magic’ Black Leaf Elephant Ears (Colocasia esculenta ’Black Magic’). I had never seen them lighted from behind, so I never knew they actually had more color to them than you can see on the surface! The photos below were of two different leaves from the same plant—the reddish-orange one had more indirect sunlight, while the top greener one had direct sunlight from behind. I find it fascinating that something that appears to be just a solid blackish-purple shade could be hiding a kaleidoscope of colors! Photographed at Green Spring Gardens

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Meadow Rue ‘Lavender Mist’

Meadow Rue ‘Lavender Mist’ (Thalictrum ‘Lavender Mist’), photographed against a backdrop of ‘Black Magic’ Black Leaf Elephant Ears (Colocasia esculenta ‘Black Magic’)

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Backlight

Unidentified leaf, backlighted by morning sunlight

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Cannon’s Double Azalea

Azalea x ‘Cannon’s Double’ (Exbury hybrid)

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Taro or Elephant’s ear

A never-before-posted image pulled from my Green Spring Gardens archives…I named this one “neon.”

Taro or Elephant’s ear (Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum ‘Illustris’)

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Tropical foliage

(unidentified), photographed at U.S. Botanic Garden. This plant was backlit by the sun, so what you’re seeing is light through the leaves.

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.