My new toy

5 comments

Well, I must say that it’s been a lovely Christmas and I’m looking forward to the new growing year!

In the meantime I’ve been playing with my new toy that my husband bought me. A microscope. It’s not a professional one but it does what I want it to do and I’ve been looking very closely at all my houseplants this morning! The idea behind the microscope was to be able to check plants for any tiny pests and to get some small details in photos. So, here’s some close ups of a chosen few houseplants:

I’m not asking for answers on a postcard nor am I offering any prizes for the correct answers, but I thought some of you may like to guess as to what types of plants I’ve taken close up photos of.

In the meantime, I hope that everyone on this site has had a lovely Christmas and I wish you all a very happy new year, with lots of gardening successes!

Chickweed x

28 Dec, 2016
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Comments

Paulspatch

Well, I think there's a Christmas cactus and another kind of cactus there!

28 Dec, 2016

Seaburngirl

what type of microscope is it? I love microscopy and the detail it can show you. what a lovely present. I have an old brass one that was my uncle's in the 1920's.

when you get the chance look at the different pollen grains. they are so sculptural.

28 Dec, 2016

Steragram

An orchid and two cacti? (Is the second one a Mammilaria?)Can't guess the others.

28 Dec, 2016

Loosestrife2

There are ones that you can plug into your computer that are spinoffs of the endoscopic micros. Up to 200x is more than sufficient and they come with built in variable power and illumination and can take stills or movies ( very cool to see an aphid giving live birth to its offspring). The cost? About $35(USA)with free shipping and most drivers are compatible with Microsoft, a few with apple. I have one that came with an adjustable stage. To look at pond life a shallow glass saucer will do. These microscopes are sold all over the web and are great fun...you might care to look at my blog featuring some images of pond life taken on this scope titled "world within worlds". To get similar images like the ones posted ten years ago would have involved equipment costing well over $1000.

29 Dec, 2016

Chickweed

Hi all,

Here's the answers:
Photo 1: Orchid
Photo 2: Air plant
Photo 3: Kalanchoe
Photo 4: Christmas Cactus
Photo 5: Oxalis Triangularis Purpurea
Photo 6: Cactus

The microscope I've got is a small digital one, which I can plug into my laptop or phone and take both photo and film with it. It's an Aoleca USB microscope with 200x mag. I'll be using it more in the new year as I get new growth in the garden and greenhouse and can't wait (always wanted a microscope since I was a kid but never had one then).
Loosestrife, I'll be checking out your recommended blog!

My new toy

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