Moon Lily
Zion N.P., Utah

Since the Moon Lily, or Sacred Datura, opens at night and closes and withers in the daylight, it's rare to catch one in the act of opening while there is still enough light to photograph.  I focused selectively to emphasize the soft, delicate quality of the flower against  the leaves floating like a star or moon in the twilight sky.  Native to the desert Southwest, Daturas were a favorite subject of painter Georgia O'Keefe.  The plant is extremely poisonous, but derivitaves were used for native spiritual and medicinal purposes, as well as in modern medicine.

 ©2005 Bryan David Griffith, All Rights Reserved.  Unauthorized use of images contained herein constitiutes violation of copyright.