Honey Bee Mugshot I

A Honey Bee (Apis) harvests nectar from a Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia Rotundifolia) in the butterfly garden at Rotary Botanical Gardens, in Janesville, Wisconsin (USA).

Honey Bee Mugshot II

A Honey Bee (Apis) harvests nectar from a Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia Rotundifolia) in the butterfly garden at Rotary Botanical Gardens, in Janesville, Wisconsin (USA).

Monarch Butterfly

A Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) harvests nectar from a Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia Rotundifolia) in the butterfly garden at Rotary Botanical Gardens, in Janesville, Wisconsin (USA).

Crowned Phlyctaenia

A small brown Phlyctaenia coronata moth, literally "Crowned Phlyctaenia" on an asiatic lilly (Lilium speciosum) at Rotary Botanical Gardens, in Janesville, Wisconsin (USA).

Black-Eyed Susan

Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) Seen near Lake LaGrange in Walworth County, Wisconsin

Sunken Garden Reflecting Pool

Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Madison, Wisconsin (USA). Each corner of the reflecting pool in the Sunken Garden, contains a little pedistal, upon which there is a floral display like this one.

Purple Coneflower

Narrow Leaf Coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia) common name "Purple Coneflower", seen at Rotary Botanical Gardens, Janesville, Wisconsin (USA).

Marigold

Marigold seen at Rotary Botanical Gardens, Janesville, WI

Petunia

Seen at the Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville, Wisconsin (USA).

Dahlia

This image is from the Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville, Wisconsin (USA). I know they can't possibly label every plant. It's a big place with an incredible number of plantings. My plant expert tells me this is a Dahlia, and she's never wrong.

Unknown

This image is from the Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville, Wisconsin (USA). I know they can't possibly label every plant. It's a big place with an incredible number of plantings. They're pretty flowers, even if I can't give them a name.

Dahlia

This image is from the Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville, Wisconsin (USA). I know they can't possibly label every plant. It's a big place with an incredible number of plantings. My plant experts tell me this is probably a dahlia, with a chance of Cosmos. I got two dahlias, so provisionally, that's what I'll call it.

Beautiful Stranger

Encountered at the Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville, Wisconsin (USA), this little beauty is about an inch (2-3 cm) across. The color is so vivid, it appears to be lit from within. Unfortunately, it wasn't identified. A similar plant was present in the alpine garden, but we couldn't identify that one either. We thought it might be Androsace Primuloides, but that doesn't look anything like this. Perhaps someone can tell me what it is. The cottonwoods were in full seed dispersal mode. Several of the little bits of cottonwood fluff are visible in this image.

Globe Flower (Trollius europaeus)

This delicate little beauty is at the Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville, Wisconsin (USA).

Looking into the Dying Sun

It's the end of the season, but the sunflowers are still beautiful in the butterfly garden at Rotary Botanical Gardens, in Janesville, Rock County, Wisconsin (USA).

The Sentinel

A female ruby-throated hummingbird assumes a regal pose. Only the males actually have a red throat. This is the most common hummingbird species in the central and eastern parts of the US, and parts of southern Canada. Those areas compose its year-round range, although some birds winter in southern Mexico and central America. Hummingbirds in general are solitary. They are very territorial and do not migrate in flocks. (https://www.beautyofbirds.com/rubythroatedhummingbirds.html)

Humming Right Along

A hummingbird feeds on a zinnia blossum.

Microcosm

A diminuative butterfly works on a tiny field of Verbena flowers (Verbena bonariensis). I wonder if (s)he is aware of the big hulking monster with the camera...

Tagged

They tag butterflies. Who Knew? This monarch butterfly has been tagged by someone from the University of Kansas (USA). That little white sticker says: TAG@KU.EDU MONARCH WATCH 1-888-TAGGING KUJ 550 I notified Mr/Ms Tag, and attached this image to the email.

Resting

This tiny hummingbird is taking a rest on some disused flower stalks.

Scentropia Dark Blue (Heliotropium arborescens)

According to the little sign, this is a "fragrant heliotrope". They do smell nice, but I was most interested in the way the sunshine through the trees caused the little flowers to glow, seemingly with a light of their own.

Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum)

With appologies to Eric Idle and all the other sophisticates who enjoy a good fart joke, the genus of this ubiquitous little plant really is Silybum. Milk Thistle has a long history as an herbal remedy, usually for liver damage caused by chemicals, alcohol, chemotherapy, Amanita phalloides (death cap) mushroom poisoning, jaundice, chronic inflammatory liver disease, cirrhosis of the liver, or chronic hepatitis. Persons with allergies to the Asteraceae plant family (including ragweed) may find they are also allergic to milk thistle. See the Wikipedia article for more information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silybum_marianum

Touch Me Not (Impatiens capensis)

This strange little plant, also known as jewel weed, is great for attracting humming birds and butterflies. A decoction of the stems, leaves and flowers is an excellent antidote to poison ivy. The plant is called touch me not, because the seed pods "explode" when touched.

Bee's Eye View

This little honey bee is working his way through a patch of English Daisies (Bellis perennis), also known as lawn or common daisies.

Tickweed (Coreopsis)

I can't say for sure what species this is. Might be Coreopsis grandiflora. That yellow really pops when the sun hits it.

Cornflower and Cardinal Flower (Centaurea cyanus and Lobelia cardinalis)

The cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) is the blue one. It's also known as bachelor button. The red cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) is just starting. It will end up as an irregular flower cluster containing may individual blossoms. I found these two blooming in my back yard, and liked the bright colors of the two together.

Busy Bee

A honey bee takes on the enormous job of polinating a Hollow Joe-Pye Weed (Eupatorium fistulosum) in Blue Mound State Park, near Blue Mounds, Wisconsin (USA). Of course, to the bee, it's just lunch.

False Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides)

I saw this little flower along one of the trails at Blue Mound State Park in Southern Wisconsin.

Pollinator

A monarch butterfly attends to a bright red zinnia blossom against a diffuse light background.

Monarch and Cosmos

A monarch butterfly feeds on the nectar of a striking red and white cosmos against a blurred background.

Red Egyptian Starcluster (Pentas lanceolata)

A ball shaped, seriously red flower cluster. Individual blossoms are little trumpets, terminating in 5 pointed stars. Starcluster flowers can also be pink or white.

Red Sage (Lantana camara)

Orange, yellow and red flower clusters with leaves against a dark green background.

Gentian Sage (Salvia patens)

Sky blue flowers that look like little claws, on a blurred green background.

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia)

purple coneflowers over a blurred green background.

Canna Lilly

A warm red canna lilly against a diffuse chartreuse background

Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia)

Bright orange petals with linear striations, and a brown and the yellow center of a Mexican Sunflower, over dark green leaves and stems in the near background, with a diffuse dark green far background.

Candy Apple Red Zinnia

A candy apple red zinnia with yellow gold reproductive parts against a blurred green background

Red cockscomb (Celosia cristata)

A deep red color, and brain-like whorls and meanders contrast with a blurred green background.

Dahlia

Magenta coloration at the tips and edges of the bountiful petals, fading to white on the interior surfaces, and some yellow near the center, over a blurred green background.

Turk's Lilly

Orange lilly with dark brown to black spots on a blurred dark green background