Good morning,
I was catching up with the blogs I follow this morning. Donna of My OBT had shared this fascinating story about observation bee hives. What do you think? I love the idea.
Bees
Captured Moments – Mist flowers, butterflies and bees
Good morning
I visited Blanco Gardens recently and their Mist flowers are blooming. The bees and butterflies love them. I bought a plant last year from Blanco Gardens and right now they are covered with butterflies. They are easy to grow and have spread throughout their section of the garden.
Sunflowers of a different color
I bought a packet of sunflower seeds this year that showed a mix of red, yellow and brown flowers. I thought they would look nice against the trellis that was supposed to be covered in passion vines with purple flowers. The sunflowers thrived, the passion vine, not so much. The contrary passion vines did send runners into other parts of the garden where they were NOT supposed to grow. 😉
Autumn colors sunflower
close up
Photo-bombing bee
Bee close up
I also have a dark red one. The insects got to it before it opened which gave it the raggedy edge.
Dark red sunflower.
Sunflower
Last year we had a volunteer Sunflower come up in the yard under a stand of Oak trees. It was about six feet tall, slender stalk and had a beautiful bloom that you can see if you click on the link above. This year we had one come up near the house. It is about three and a half feet tall with a thick stalk. The blooms are similar. It has been fun watching it grow and the bees are enjoying this early bloom very much.
Bee on sunflower showing size comparison
Bee on sunflower cropped
Young sunflower closeup
A walk in the park and other photo fun.
I am still experimenting with the new camera and realize there is much I need to learn about the various options. I’m having a lot of fun though. 🙂
Converted to Black and White with Photoshop Elements 13
Cathartes aura – Turkey Buzzard (Vulture)
Bee on dewberry blossom
Closeup of bee
Green eyed kitty
Sunflower
Wren in garden
Lazy Saturday Afternoon
This is a little pin cushion cactus that grows wild around our place.
Much more subtle than the larger Prickly pear that we see around the hill country. Love the blooms. I normally miss seeing them bloom.
Asclepias asperula, Antelope Horns Milkweed and bee 
If you enlarge the photo below, it is like one of those seek and find games.
We found seven insects on this milkweed.
Granted it will be a bit grainy when enlarged enough to see the smallest of the insects. This plant supports a lot of life.
Milkweed bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus) on Antelope Horns Milkweed (of course)
On the next three photos with butterflies,
I used the vastness of the internet to try and identify them.
Hopefully correctly. 🙂
Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus)
Checkered White (Pontia protodice) on Blackfoot daisy (Melampodium leucanthum)
I think this is a Southern Dogface -Zerene cesoniahis
Unknown tiny insect on wildflower
China Berry blossoms – China Berry tree Melia azedarach var. umbraculifera
This is an invasive non-native tree. It’s saving grace for me is the fragrant blooms.
I Love them.
Otherwise, the berries are a mess and the wood is weak.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend,
Melyna
Coffee and Captured Moments 