I bet everyone is buzzing about the chances of rain, eh! I sure have my fingers crossed. However, a lot of our wildlife and plants are prepared to carry on. Sure not all will make it which of course is sad.
However, Western Ironweed (Vernonia baldwinii) seems to be quite adapted to the heat and drought. Indeed, it is a plant I look forward to seeing in bloom in late July and August. A lot of them have finished already, but others like this patch are still going. Makes you wonder how they manage to survive.
Here was a delightful surprise, a Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)!
Then the bumble bee started to crowd in on the Tiger Swallowtail. The swallowtail did not move for the bumble bee. All managed to get some nectar!
A close up! The American Bumble Bee is the only Bombus species that I have seen here.
Certainly, Greeneyes (Berlandiera betonicifolia) are drought tolerant plant. My patch this year is doing wonderful!
Reminds me of candles on a birthday cake!
I went out about 10am this morning. Goodness, I was amazed at how many American Bumble Bees (Bombus pensylvanicus) were feeding on the Greeneyes (Berlandiera betonicifolia)! In fact, I guessimating there was at least a hundred of them on our patch. My fingers were crossed, but this is all I saw to my west this afternoon.To the southeast, I could smell and hear the rumbles. But alas, nary a drop here. 🙁 Optimistically fingers are still crossed!
The more you know, the more you see and the more you see, the more you know.
5 Comments
I’ve observed some odd things this year with some of these plants.
Western Ironweed was planted in my “wildscape” 2 years ago. Even with watering, it did not even sprout up. Another was planted this winter in my “sumac corner”. It only got a foot tall but is currently blooming, hooray! The ones I potted up from our part of the river (those others were from north TX) are still in the plant corral getting daily watering because they are in pots. They started blooming a month earlier. And yes the butterflies love it!
I bought a TX Greeneyes last fall and planted it in my backyard. It grows wild down the highway and I have always loved it at the grasslands. It is really struggling since the whole time it has been planted we have been in a drought. I hope next year it flourishes.
And last comment. I didn’t know we had a totally different species of bumblebee down here than north TX. And it is the only one we see here. Really cool things in nature.
My daughter in law texted me earlier today because she was excited that they were about to get rain in Denton. Looks like it was just a tiny cell compared to Paris east through Arkansas. About like what we see here. You see someone else is getting the rains but nary a drop as you said Mary.
Love the birthday candles flower pic. Great angle on the greeneyes.
Did you plant your Greeneyes from seed? Not being a gardener, if I want something to grow in a different place, I always have better luck digging it up. Even annuals. My Greeneyes are all naturally in the place they are. I had nothing to do with it. Which made me happy when the Greeneyes have started to spread to the “yard”. We quit mowing except for a tiny bit to the front door. Didn’t want delivery people to have to walk thru the tall grass.
I’ve observed some odd things this year with some of these plants.
Western Ironweed was planted in my “wildscape” 2 years ago. Even with watering, it did not even sprout up. Another was planted this winter in my “sumac corner”. It only got a foot tall but is currently blooming, hooray! The ones I potted up from our part of the river (those others were from north TX) are still in the plant corral getting daily watering because they are in pots. They started blooming a month earlier. And yes the butterflies love it!
I bought a TX Greeneyes last fall and planted it in my backyard. It grows wild down the highway and I have always loved it at the grasslands. It is really struggling since the whole time it has been planted we have been in a drought. I hope next year it flourishes.
And last comment. I didn’t know we had a totally different species of bumblebee down here than north TX. And it is the only one we see here. Really cool things in nature.
My daughter in law texted me earlier today because she was excited that they were about to get rain in Denton. Looks like it was just a tiny cell compared to Paris east through Arkansas. About like what we see here. You see someone else is getting the rains but nary a drop as you said Mary.
Love the birthday candles flower pic. Great angle on the greeneyes.
Did you plant your Greeneyes from seed? Not being a gardener, if I want something to grow in a different place, I always have better luck digging it up. Even annuals. My Greeneyes are all naturally in the place they are. I had nothing to do with it. Which made me happy when the Greeneyes have started to spread to the “yard”. We quit mowing except for a tiny bit to the front door. Didn’t want delivery people to have to walk thru the tall grass.
What bumble bees do you have?
Ive seen quite a few bumbles this year. Very few butterflies. Like Kathy i love the birthday candles.
I love the new gall wasp species story!
There is a link in the story too. Make sure you check it out