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.