Sant Pau Hospital: Cupolas

Can you imagine a hospital with buildings like this?

Think of a central square with colorful flowers and bloomed orange trees surrounded by brick wall pavilions crowned with beautiful Art Nouveau cupolas and literally covered with sculptures and assorted architectural adornments. That is not a dream, it exists. You only have to visit Sant Pau Hospital (Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau).

Maybe you would say: "No way, I don't like hospitals". Well, the pavilions are not functional anymore so they will not admit you as a patient. Just enter through the main gate on Cartagena street, one block away from L5 blue subway line. You can sit on a bench there, take a lot of wonderful pictures and most of all, enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the place. When you leave you won't have the feeling you visited a hospital but the certainty that you have been in contact with a beautiful past.

Pear Tree Flowers

Just some pear tree flowers I happened to shoot at the beginning of spring, if there ever was spring this year. Summer is already here, hot weather and all. Not that we had too many sunny days in the past two months.

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Lantana Closeup in Barcelona

This is a lantana I came across in some Barcelona garden. It has been a very rainy season in the city in spite of the water crisis of past months so flowers look healthier than ever and make good photographs. Check an older picture of Lantanas. Have a nice weekend everyone!

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Barcelona Trees: Horse Chestnut or Conker Flowers

Aesculus hippocastanum or common horse chestnut can be seen in some parks of Barcelona so I thought you might like the image of its flowers. These I shot in Bellaterra in early spring. I suppose it must have yielded the characteristic spiny conkers by now. From the seeds of this tree a substance called saponin aescin is extracted and used for health purposes like treating varicose veins, edema, sprains. This constituent strengthens the blood vessels and prevents thrombosis. It has haemolytic properties and is recommended as an astringent and circulatory tonic. The extracts from horse chestnut are used to treat cellulitis. So you see, the beautiful tree and its flowers are not just an adornment. Talking about adornment. Did you know that the leaves of horse chestnut trees are a common pattern in art nouveau architecture? Well, follow this fantastic link and you'll find out more about the use of nature in the Art Nouveau decoration.

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Almond Flowers

Almond Flowers: A Botanical Delight

Nature has gifted us with an abundance of breathtaking sights, and one such marvel is the delicate and enchanting almond flower. Almond trees, scientifically known as Prunus dulcis, belong to the Rosaceae family and are native to the Middle East and Mediterranean regions. These stunning blossoms announce the arrival of spring, transforming vast landscapes into beautiful tapestries of white and pink hues.

The almond tree's blossoming season is a magical time, typically occurring in late winter or early spring, before the emergence of leaves. As the winter chill gives way to the gentle warmth of the sun, the almond trees awaken from their dormant state. The flowers burst forth, adorning the branches with clusters of soft, fragrant petals. It is a sight that evokes a sense of joy and anticipation, symbolizing the rejuvenation and renewal of nature.

Almond flowers are small, measuring only about an inch in diameter, and possess a five-petal structure. These petals can vary in color, ranging from pure white to shades of pale pink. Each blossom showcases a vivid center, composed of a multitude of stamens and a single pistil. The stamens bear the pollen-producing anthers, while the pistil holds the ovary, which eventually develops into the almond fruit.

The scientific name of the almond flower is Prunus dulcis var. dulcis, and it is closely related to other members of the Prunus genus, including cherries, peaches, and plums. This shared lineage is evident in the similarities in their flower structure and the overall appearance of the trees.

Almond trees have a rich history and are deeply intertwined with the culture and heritage of many regions. One such place where almond trees hold a special significance is Catalonia. The gentle Mediterranean climate and fertile soils of Catalonia provide an ideal environment for almond cultivation, making it one of the prominent almond-producing regions in Europe.

The almond blossoms are not only visually stunning but also play a crucial role in the pollination process. Bees and other pollinators are drawn to their nectar and pollen, ensuring the cross-pollination necessary for the production of almonds.

The blossoming period of almond trees in Catalonia typically occurs between January and February, marking the arrival of spring. It is a time of celebration, and local communities often organize festivals and events to honor the beauty and significance of the almond flowers. Visitors can immerse themselves in the exciting atmosphere, enjoying traditional music, dances, and local delicacies made with almonds. For example, in many towns of Lleida numerous activities are organized around almond trees in bloom. Check this interesting blog with pictures at Les Garrigues, Lleida.

The next time you witness the gentle embrace of almond blossoms, take a moment to appreciate the intricate beauty and botanical marvels they represent.

Daisy Paradise

Field of Daisies

This a picture of daisies, multi-color daisies as seen from ground level the way you would see them if laying on a field.

The image is over saturated on purpose, to magnify the idyllic experience.

I didn't want the scientific approach to the flower, on the contrary, I thought of a painting, the limit between reality and fiction, the point where a photograph starts looking like a painting, when flowers seem to be a sort of nature's brush strokes.

Withered Flower

Flowers come and flowers go, the essence of life. Splendor dissapears but you can still find beauty in withering things. Nature is like a whimsical damsel that needs to wear new makeup and dress every single day, every single minute, ever since the world began.

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Almond Tree Flowers in Early Spring

Just another bunch of almond flowers taken in early spring someday in Lleida last year.

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Infrared Ruins in the Spring

Iberian ruins with some spring flowers in Lleida. I have added a slight infrared effect for emphasis.

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Baby Rabbits in Nest at a Farm in Vallverd, Lleida

Although Barcelona pictures are in high demand, especially buildings or street photos, I remind you that this blog is always open to other topics that may seem irrelevant sometimes. Such is the case of flowers, assorted objects or animals I find along the way. Moreover, as specified in the description on top there is the possibility of including neighboring towns and by that I mean any place in Catalonia i.e. the Spanish authonomy or the country (according to the political thoughts of its inhabitants) of which Barcelona is the capital. Once said that I wanted to show you a nest of baby rabbits in a small friend's farm in Vallverd, Lleida (map), one of the four Catalan provinces. Everyone knows rabbits but all of them together waiting for mummy in the cage next door to feed them seemed cute enough to portray and a way to shake you off the architectural hypnosis I exposed you to in the last posts.

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Spring Infatuation: Purple Flowers

Infatuation is defined as a foolish, unreasoning, or extravagant passion or attraction or an object of extravagant, short-lived passion. I couldn't think of a better word to express my mood in front of the color, the design, the equilibrium and symmetry of these insignificant purple flowers announcing the arrival of Spring.

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Photo of Yellow Flowers at Ramblas Stall in Barcelona, Spain

A close look on a bunch of yellow flowers, possibly daisies, that remind me of sunflowers in a certain way. I am not a florist or an expert on botany so I leave it up to you to identify the right name. Now that you are with me visiting Las Ramblas flower stalls in Barcelona, why don't you check my whole flower set on Flickr. All of the images together are more luring.

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Orange are My Favorite Flowers

Orange is not my favorite color, at least not if compared to blue or purple but in photography it really makes a difference. I have seen extraordinary pictures that include such color, here are some: Orange is the new color
My orange flowers today, I believe, are roses and they are only a modest contribution.

Cactus Flowers in Las Ramblas Stall

Nature's designs come in many ways, some are blatantly horrendous, some are subtle and beautiful as these tiny cacti flowers I found at a stall in Las Ramblas de Barcelona.

Orange Bells

Walking along the fence of Mossen Costa i Llobera Cacti Gardens which happened to be closed on Sunday, I don't know why, I found this beautiful orange flowers that look like pods or long bells. I am unable to determine the name but I do like the bright colors against the green of cacti in the background.

NH Podium Hotel at Bailen 4-6, Barcelona

NH Podium Hotel is the second on my list, but remember this is a random selection. You are free to choose any hotel from the huge amount available in Barcelona. I just liked the entrance you see. It was sunny and the flowers really looked attractive. I visited the site and at least the pictures in the gallery are quite convincing. But of course I would show you my best suite to make you book a room. If I were you I would think of budget first, then which part of the city the hotel is and finally I would read some reviews on the web about nice and affordable accomodation in our city. By the way, NH Podium is located at Bailen street, 4-6, very near Arc de Triomph and Ciutadella Park.

Small Colorful Bouquets of Paper Flowers in Las Ramblas, Barcelona, Spain

In trying to keep the colorful posts cause I think most of all like bright colors, at least that's my impression, I chose a bunch of small paper flower bouquets on sale at the stalls along Rambla dels Flors. I am not happy with the level of detail, that is, upon taking a very close look at the flowers but it was almost dark, I had to fire my flash, ask for permission to shoot, watch not to be shoved onto the flowers by passerbies, hold one cigar in my left hand which the stall owner asked me to keep an eye on and last but not least finish fast so my wife and daughter didn't get too tired of waiting.

Pink Flowers Fantasy in Rambla dels Flors, Barcelona

And as one is never enough here goes my second post on flower stalls along Rambla dels Flors. Another bouquet, this time a pink bouquet or is it magenta? Well who cares! The thing is it must be nice to see this on the front page along with the previous post. Call me weird but I sometimes like to combine pictures according to colors in my blog, I find it interesting. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. Have a nice day my friends.

Purple Flowers Fantasy in La Rambla de las Flores, Barcelona

A close look on a bouquet of purple flowers in a stall at Rambla dels Flors. As you know Las Ramblas de Barcelona is divided into different sections which I won't recall here not to repeat myself. One of them though is La Rambla de las Flores, a group of flower stalls set along the way which help to create a special mood in this famous part of town.

Colored Flowers Bouquet Detail in La Rambla dels Flors, Barcelona

Due the success the larger picture of flower bouquets in La Rambla dels Flors had, I have decided to perform a little cropping to show you a small detail of the image in my old post. I was wondering how the saturated colors of these artificial flowers would look against the black and white picture I posted yesterday. I want to thank Strangetastes from St. Louis Daily Photoblog for the kind suggestions about other members of the City Daily Photo group who are really good at taking black and white pictures.