Pitcher Plant

On the porch is the water garden where this pitcher plant lives.  The flower pot is partly submerged in the water in a peat moss mixture.  There are four other pitchers on the plant, but they were blown over during a strong wind and rain storm.  So this one stands alone. 

This particular plant was bought last year, and wintered over in the shed, to come back and begin regrowing.  What cannot be seen in this shot is that this two feet tall, and it is still growing!

No, I haven't tried to look to see if they have caught any insects.

Maybe This Year?

For the last three years, just as the Lily of the Nile (Agapanthus ‘Stevie’s Wonder’) got to this stage, the "long legged animal that destroys all in its path" ate off the flower buds like they were lollipops.  So, with a bit a luck, they may survive this year.  A few weeks ago some things were eaten, but we have been regularly applying repellents.  It also appears that some of the pathways that they have followed for years have been disrupted.  So, I am hoping to see them bloom this year.

Lots of insects

Walking in the labyrinth this morning, there are lots of bumble bees feeding on the salvia, Bee Balm, and Purple Milkweed.  As well as a variety of other insects. 

I tried to do an image search on the yellow/black/white insect in this picture, but was unable to find anything to match.  The search engine kept trying to match the color of the milkweed flower.

So, I was able to find the red beetle on the next picture.  It is a Tetraopes tetrophthalmus, or in common language, the Red Milkweed Beetle.  This is a new one for me.

Tetraopes tetrophthalmus

Flowering Maple?

Abutilon 'Linda Vista Peach'

While actually belonging to the mallow family, and in no way related to maples, the common name for this charmer is Flowering Maple.  The leaves look somewhat like a maple leaf to the eye, but of course maples don't flower like this.

We bought this at the National Arboretum plant sale, having a different variety for the last three years.  They delight in the sun, but need to be kept moist.  But the best part is that when taken into the house in September, and kept in a sunny window, they will continue to bloom throughout the winter.

Great Mullein Volunteer

Verbascum thapsis

It is a weed, and should be pulled out of the ground before it can produce thousands of seeds that will persist for decades in the soil.  For thousands of years it has been used for skin, throat and breathing ailments, as well as an astringent and emollient.  This is only the second mullein in our 16 years that has lived long enough to produce a flowering stalk.  It will be allowed to stay.

Growing outside my office window, the flower candelabra is visible just a couple of feet away, at the edge of my view of the Bay.  I look forward to watching it continue to reach up to the sun and sky.   

Blooming Little Gem

Magnolia grandfolia ‘Little Gem’

Magnolia flowers, for all of their size and thick substantial petals, are surprisingly short lived before turning brown.  Yet if it is possible to let go of the idea that they should be white, the brown is quite beautiful by itself.  A few months ago I was walking behind the Smithsonian Castle.  Along the edge of the path are large Star Magnolias which had been blooming very early in the warm spring weather.  However, overnight the temperatures had dropped below freezing.  Brilliant white flowers had turned brown.  At first thinking it was a horrible loss, a close look revealed a carmelized brown still translucent with layers of shadows. edges outlined by dark lines.  As they are this afternoon, on the first day of June.

May Flowers

Last week I attended a contemplative photography workshop at Holy Cross Monastery in West Park, New York.  It was a time to reflect on when and why I take pictures with a group that ended up being much more serious about their craft than I am.  In contrast I also visited with my nephew Neal, who told me that he enjoys seeing my pictures.

I know others enjoy the pictures and have a sense of connection with this small plot of soil that overlooks the Chesapeake Bay.  Yet I want to keep it simpler to produce, so going forward I expect to choose only one, or maybe two pictures, along with producing posts more frequently. 

The photo above is in what used to be the heather bed.  As there were fewer and fewer living heather plants, it is now the lavender bed.  So for those who want the specific names and varieties, here goes. Here are two Lavandula angustifolia, ‘Munstead’ and 'Hidcote Blue.'  The dark pink spikes behind them on the left is Penstemon x Mexicali ‘Red Rocks Penstemon’ while the flat headed pink flowers on the right are Spiraea x bumalda 'Goldflame.'  In the front right corner and behind the Penstemon you can see the leaves of Senna marilandica or Maryland senna, which will be blooming in August.