A sweet scent and color cheer up a drab winter
By Fei Lai |
February 23, 2013, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
WINTERTIME is not normally associated with floral displays, but if you look carefully, the parks of Minhang have some hidden treasures of color to enjoy.
Most notable is wintersweet, or meihua, an indigenous flowering shrub of China. It's in blossom now in Xinzhuang Park, where its strong, spicy scent delights many visitors.
Chimonanthus plants are quite common in the jiangnan area, the region south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, especially the areas in in Shanghai and neighboring provinces of Zhejiang and Jiangsu. The region's alkaline soil is ideal for their cultivation.
Xinzhuang Park has more than 30 species of the ornamental plant, including green, white and pink blossoms.
The flowers are at their best just when they are half in bloom. It's well worth taking a camera along to the park.
"It's best to pick a specific flower in clusters as the main focus for a good picture," said Sang Jionghua, a local veteran photographer.
"The flower is coquettish," he added. "I would recommend using one or two flowers as background to a photo, in order to capture the courage of flowering on a cold winter's day."
Symbol of resilience
Sang said the light angle is also important. He recommends a 100-millimeter lens with wide aperture. Use of light accentuates the texture of the blossoms. Many photographers like to shoot wintersweet on sunny days, but sometimes overcast skies can highlight the flower to better advantage, he said.
Ice, snow and bees are the best friends of wintersweet. Capturing any of them in a photo will enhance a picture.
"Photographers can drop some honey on a blossom to attract bees, saving the time waiting around on a cold day," said Zhang Muxian, a local photographer. "A little water sprayed on the buds can also enhance their delicateness."
In China, wintersweet is believed to have been first domesticated during the Song Dynasty (AD 960-1279). It is prized as a symbol of resilience in the face of adversity - so dignified and elegant that it has been an inspiration to poets and artists since the 11th century.
Because of its strong scent, clippings from the plant were often used as cupboard sachets.
The plant was later introduced to Japan and Europe.
A few excellent spots for photographing wintersweet
Xinzhuang Park
Address: 421 Xinbang Rd
Minhang Sports Park
Address: 456 Xinzhen Rd
Tel: 5486-1228
Minhang Park
Address: 249 Humin Rd
Tel: 5470-0663
Pujiang Forest Park
Address: 100 Lianyue Rd
Most notable is wintersweet, or meihua, an indigenous flowering shrub of China. It's in blossom now in Xinzhuang Park, where its strong, spicy scent delights many visitors.
Chimonanthus plants are quite common in the jiangnan area, the region south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, especially the areas in in Shanghai and neighboring provinces of Zhejiang and Jiangsu. The region's alkaline soil is ideal for their cultivation.
Xinzhuang Park has more than 30 species of the ornamental plant, including green, white and pink blossoms.
The flowers are at their best just when they are half in bloom. It's well worth taking a camera along to the park.
"It's best to pick a specific flower in clusters as the main focus for a good picture," said Sang Jionghua, a local veteran photographer.
"The flower is coquettish," he added. "I would recommend using one or two flowers as background to a photo, in order to capture the courage of flowering on a cold winter's day."
Symbol of resilience
Sang said the light angle is also important. He recommends a 100-millimeter lens with wide aperture. Use of light accentuates the texture of the blossoms. Many photographers like to shoot wintersweet on sunny days, but sometimes overcast skies can highlight the flower to better advantage, he said.
Ice, snow and bees are the best friends of wintersweet. Capturing any of them in a photo will enhance a picture.
"Photographers can drop some honey on a blossom to attract bees, saving the time waiting around on a cold day," said Zhang Muxian, a local photographer. "A little water sprayed on the buds can also enhance their delicateness."
In China, wintersweet is believed to have been first domesticated during the Song Dynasty (AD 960-1279). It is prized as a symbol of resilience in the face of adversity - so dignified and elegant that it has been an inspiration to poets and artists since the 11th century.
Because of its strong scent, clippings from the plant were often used as cupboard sachets.
The plant was later introduced to Japan and Europe.
A few excellent spots for photographing wintersweet
Xinzhuang Park
Address: 421 Xinbang Rd
Minhang Sports Park
Address: 456 Xinzhen Rd
Tel: 5486-1228
Minhang Park
Address: 249 Humin Rd
Tel: 5470-0663
Pujiang Forest Park
Address: 100 Lianyue Rd
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