Promoted
Monarda fistulosa 2 2024-03-23 SW Michigan USA
Wild Bergamot a bit closer. This was taken with my Nikon D850 using my older Nikkor 105mm AF (not AF-S) macro lens with an even older Olympus 35mm lens reverse mounted, which gives me an enlargement ratio of just a little less than 4:1. The 35mm is stopped to f8 and the 105 is wide open. I've cropped out the outer fifth of the image as there is some corner vignetting and a reduction of sharpness away from the center. When you open it as original quality and enlarge to the limit of sharpness you can begin to see what I assume are the outlines of cells in thin areas. This is currently my extreme macro limit.
"Monarda fistulosa" is a wildflower in the mint family widespread and abundant as a native plant in much of North America. This plant, with showy summer-blooming pink to lavender flowers, is often used as a honey plant, medicinal plant, and garden ornamental.
