Purple Coneflowers with Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly

The purple coneflowers are in bloom outside my front door and all day I go in and out with not much more than a glance their way.

I see honey bees among the flowers as I rush to the feed mill and a bumble bee as I come back from the vet. But when an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail stops by to feed I can’t help but stop my day to watch it flit about.

A delicate butterfly on such a striking flower- a cherry on top indeed.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Details

Jul19

Weekly Photo Challenge: Details purple cone flower

I have always liked how purple cone flowers hold their pollen in a circle all around the outer edge of their bright spiky center. This particular flower’s petals were only partially unfurled showing off those spiny looking sepals hiding underneath as well.

It’s no wonder my kids call them “the pokey flowers!”

Garden Blooms

Jun19

Most of the time my gardens look better in my mind. iris In my own theoretical universe I shower them with time and attention and they reward me with a constant show of blooms.