Just another solid shot. Such a good look at that fuzzy little critter. And if you don’t know what I think of blanket flowers, you’ve not been paying attention. Such fun detail all around in this pic. Also – get some of these flowers for your gardens. I’ll bet you’ll love them, too.
Tag: Native
Another on the Partridge Feather
Teeny, teeny sweat bee on the partridge feather. It’s a neat plant itself. Low to the ground, but it does something with its leaves or “feathers” that makes it look like there is dew or crystals on it throughout the day. Neat ground cover that isn’t very thirsty. Not my favorite because it only blooms once and I don’t see many bees on it. But that’s not the only criterion for putting it in the garden.
Native Leafcutter on the Russian Sage
A couple of years ago, our neighbors replaced their grass parking strip with a water-wise garden. In addition to a number of other things, they planted four Russian Sages. The garden looks great and I love the sages because they so many attract bees and other pollinators. Don’t think I’ve ever shot this particular leafcutter before. It’s really a neat one.
Filthy Sweat Bee on the Rock Rose
Finally got a shot on the orange rock rose. Super filthy little sweat bee this time. Light is awful, but the shadow is fun. This particular sweat bee has hair all over her abdomen, too, and she’s just laden. Kind of cannot tell where the flower ends and the bee begins.
Sweat Bee on a Partridge Feather
This is a neat (if not fairly aggressive) ground cover. Most of the year, it’s greeney-silvery leaves, but in the early summer it throws up blossoms like those in the pic. It’s pretty cold hardy (does well to zone 4) and doesn’t take much water. In fact, it doesn’t want much water.
Don’t have very many shots of bees on it because I’m either not paying great attention when it’s in bloom (so much of the rest of the garden is then, too) or it doesn’t throw all that much pollen. So it was neat to see this little sweat bee on it when I was looking for a pic for today.
Odd Focus on a Longhorn on a Sunflower
The depth on this one is so pronounced. Notice where the focus is and where it goes. It’s a little distracting, but it’s pretty compelling, too. Not great art, but surely a study in something (if only the bee’s eye).
Fantastic Profile on a Thistleball
I recall shooting this one. Think it was sleeping. They don’t usually hold still like this. And it turned out to be a fantastic shot. Just love the eyes on these leafcutters. And this is such a compelling flower. Just gorgeous. Wish it lasted longer. From July, again.
Quick Hit: Leafcutter on the Salvia
It’s just a few minutes before midnight and it’s been a long, long day. So here’s a quick one for now – shot in mid-July. It’s a native leafcutter on the salvia. Plenty cute with a great look at her eye.
One More Day…and a Tiny Sweat Bee
Here’s a really, really, really tiny sweat bee on a single ‘mum petal. About the size of a grain of rice, give or take. Really, really tiny. And quite cute.
Rough to try to get focus on this one. Might be able to tell given how much/little of the ‘mum is in focus. But pretty compelling, I think.
A Sweat Bee on a Ratty-looking Chrysanthemum
Late, late, late again. What a day. Missed a funeral I very much wanted to attend. Gallery leased, remodeling begins tomorrow. What a day.
Got to shoot for about ten minutes this afternoon between and among the mess of the day. Manged to get a number of good shots and enjoy myself just a little. In other, sadder news the honeybees were bundled up this evening and are preparing for their journey to the almond groves of California. Can’t wait for spring, and fall isn’t even over yet. Always makes me a little sad to see the bees go south.
But hey, this is a great bee. And one that is going to stick around! Enjoy.
