Wednesday 16 May 2012: Parachute drop

The low morning sunlight was lighting up one part of the dewy, dandelion rich lawn before I left for work. This is what I love about macrophotography: landscapes in miniature, details unseen to the naked eye, a tiny world in a dew drop.

The fascinating thing about dandelions is that they are what is called apomicts. The seeds are not produced by the normal process of fertilisation of an egg cell following pollination. The seed is a genetic copy of the adult. So the production of a complex flower that attracts insects to collect pollen and nectar is completely unnecessary, a gift to the insects and to those of us who love the bright yellow flowers of Spring.

These little seeds with their feathery parachutes are waiting for a breeze to carry them up into the air and on their unknown journey to pastures and gardens new. The wind came in the middle of the day when it clouded over, and the seeds have gone.

• NIKON D90:
• f/10:
• 1/400":
• 105.0mm:
• ISO 400

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