Holy Moly... someone get an extinguisher! For SURE this baby looks explosive... especially on warmer days, when an interior eye band appears. In cooler temps (second photo), the self color is more of a very dark blood-red (with a slight cast of chocolate brown)... yet retains a very dynamic and large lighter eyewash (on both petals and sepals). In any case, watch your knickers... this hot-head might just catch 'em on fire if you're not payin' it attention!

In truth, this flower is dedicated to one of my very best long-time friends... Richie Fedrigon (of Bloomsburg, PA). You see, when Richie decided to help cook Thanksgiving dinner a few years before leaving PA... his "stuffed mushroom surprise" caught our oven on fire, and nearly burned down our house! It's not been easy, but I've long forgiven Richie for his little "holiday treat"... and we're the best of friends again to this day. Indeed... I love ya, Richie. Just because... you're YOU!!! ;-)

I included a little pic of Richie as most recently seen this past Halloween... as a "Catholic School Girl... gone bad!"