Flowers in Bloom

1963: Flora and Philately Exhibition (Design - Otto Rhose)

Two flower stamps that give the impression of the texture of embroidery.   On the left Columbine (Aquilegia) sometimes called Granny's Bonnet and on the right a Lady's Slipper Orchid, so combined, apart from the dress, almost a full outfit.  Both flower in May and June so it will be warm enough to frolic without the dress.  In another coincidence the Romans associated aquilegia with Venus and the Lady's Slipper is named in Latin after Aphrodite. Both ladies who liked a frolic.   The stamps were issued for the Flora and Philately Exhibition held as part of the International Garden Show in Hamburg in 1963. Just the place to pick up

1982: Airmail - Nicaraguan Paintings

a bunch of flowers.  The Vase of Flowers is a painting by Rodrigo Penalba (1908-1979)

2015: Magnolia (Design - Helene Schmitz)

My scanner does not usually pick up the security markings on Swedish stamps but now discover it does with pastel shades.  I always consider the magnolia tree exotic with its waxy flowers. I never cease to be amazed that it grows and thrives here but then this ancient flora has had millions of years of experience and evolved before bees,

 being pollinated by beetles

as the Pollinator blog explains.  From the subtle colours of magnolia to the pizazz of

2011: Water Lilies (Design - Inga-Karin Eriksson)

colour on this set and the start of summer in June.  I'm guessing the dragonfly is a Baltic Hawker with its love of shallow lakes in Sweden and the perfect perch would be a water lily leaf,  The yellow water lily has smaller and more oval leaves than the white.

Sunday Stamps II theme this week is - flowers - more bloom on  See It On A Postcard