"In nature nothing exists alone." - Rachel Carson, Silent Spring
This still life of an alder rooster on a wild dandelion is characterized by the surreal white-gray background, contrasting with the yellow petals that are slowly unfolding. The white-gray background is a signature of the limestone-rich marl soil in the quarry of the former marl winning ENCI industry in Maastricht. Because of the deep excavation of this former plateau, you imagine yourself on a barren planet, no tree root was ever so deep and overblown seeds have barely been able to penetrate the dry soil. A few pioneers such as dandelions, poppies and the zinc violet thrive on this mineral-rich yet bare virgin soil. For biologists, this area is a true experiment and research is being done into how soils work on other planets.
The alder beetle on the dandelion, known by its Latin name 'Agelastica alni', is a beetle belonging to the leaf beetle family, the Chrysomelidae. The scientific name of the species, as Chrysomela alni, was published by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. This 6 to 7 mm long beetle has a blue-black color with a beautiful sheen.
The beetles of the alder beetle overwinter in the soil and under leaves and dead plant matter.
My name is Rachel, living in Maastricht and I like to make photographs based on narratives that revolve around contemporary urban landscapes in transition... Read more…
Netherlands
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Germany
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Netherlands
Netherlands
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Netherlands
Netherlands
Netherlands