Local Bees

Finally saw a bee in the area.  I figured there would be some bees or something that pollinates since this area used to be mostly farming.  I didn't see him at first since he was so small but here he is.  Nice to see we aren't entirely pollinated by wasps, which are also a common pollinator.

The big sunflower is still forming seeds.  The head has drooped entirely and the petals are brown and mostly fallen off.  Just waiting for the stem to start turning colors, which indicates the seeds are about done forming and ready for harvest.

Something I still think it amazing is the color in the petals of the sunflower.  This specific flower has been blooming for about a week now and the colors are still this bright and vibrant.  And as I said about the other flower, the petals will lose their colors and drain out completely once they are done.  Reminds me of red glass.  A lot of red glass turns quickly in the sun and fades but there are some recipes that keep the deep red color.  Every pottery and glass company either has to inherit the recipe from previous generations or reinvent the red.  I have yet to find a readily available recipe for this. 

Garden Life

Sounds like a magazine... It might be a magazine but that's not what I had in mind.

I don't remember what these flowering plants are called but who cares right now. the important part is that these little butterflies love it! There were four of them and they seemed more interested in the plant than in the fact that I was right in the midst of them. I was able to stand there watching them for a good five minutes before they flew off.

This little guy startled me. At first I thought he was a wasp that had come back to unsettle my nerves but after a little while I realized he was no wasp. It's almost like he wanted to pose for me. I didn't even know my camera was that good.