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Another Mother

| Flower Roberts

I have posted on another Mother-of-Thousands,

This one is also called Mother-of-Millions, Alligator Plant and Mexican Hat Plant.

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It also goes by several scientific/genus names; Bryophyllum, Crassulaceae or Kolanchoe.

Even the species/specific epithet may change from daigremontiana to pinnata.

No wonder it had no label when I purchased it from a greenhouse.

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The leaflets on the mama leaves are held by tiny pink “spoons” along the edges.

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Some grow roots before they drop off, but most do not.

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They do not get far from the mama plant.

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Cute, but crowded.

FLOWER

A Plant that Feeds Ants

| Flower Roberts

I was thrilled to discover my first Red Passion flower bloom last week.

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When I checked on it the second day, it had all ready closed.

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Upon closer examination, I discovered it was covered with tiny ants.

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These ants were busily scurrying between tiny green discs on the outer edges of the sepals/calyx.

I at first thought these green discs to be aphids,

but they were too uniformily spaced.

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I had to do a little research to discover their identity.

They are tiny nectaries, produced by the plant to feed the ants.

These ants in residence provide services in return.

They guard the plants against aphids and caterpillars.

If you have been following the FLOWER, you have seen my caterpillar photos,

many of which were taken on my wild Passion flower vines.

I have not seen one caterpillar on this Red Passion flower vine.

So the Red Passion plant has pet ants.

Who knew?

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FLOWER

Red October

| Flower Roberts

I started this post yesterday as Red October.

Today, as I finish it, I wonder if its title should be Wet October.

I can finally stop watering thanks to hurricane Matthew.

My thoughts are with my friends closer to the action. (ShrubQueen)

For all of us who are safe, but not dry, here are some colorful photos for this dreary day.

This last one is a picture of a dogwood sprig thrown down to me by a thoughtful squirrel. What a nice little bouquet.

Hang in there folks. This is no Hugo, or is it?

FLOWER

Steadfast Spider has Spiderlings

| Flower Roberts

Success for Mama Green Lynx/ Peucetia viridans.

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She has not left the eggs sac for weeks.

Today is has been ripped open and dozens of tiny spiderlings are out.

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She seems to have woven a web-playpen for the babies.

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She moves around the cluster of young ones tapping them with her lovely spiky legs.

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I feel privileged to have witnessed this.

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FLOWER is a happy grandma.

Hangin’ out with a Hummer

| Flower Roberts

It has taken many quiet hours to get these little jewels habituated to my presence.

I have placed chairs in different spots in the yard,

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where I quietly sit most days, just long enough to be noticed and then ignored.

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A Pineapple Sage bloom came off on her beak.

I sat among the herbs in the bunny yard today to get these shots.

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Turk’s Cap

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She even hovered in front of my face and the camera, too close for the zoom lens.

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Passion Flower hybrid

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She took breaks between plants.

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Today’s flower favorites were are Pineapple sage, Turk’s cap, Passion Flower hybrid ‘Blue Crown’ and Mexican bush sage.

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Mexican Bush Sage

Mr. Cardinal came to pose, too.

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FLOWER is a quiet friend.

Spider in the Storm

| Flower Roberts

Laugh if you wish.

I was concerned for my mama spider and her egg sac during last night’s storm.

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I have been watching them both for weeks. She is a Green Lynx spider/ Peucetia viridans.

I was attracted to the head of goldenrod blooms by a peculiar object among the yellow flowers.

I saw her egg sac before I spotted her guarding it.

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The color of the egg sac is a dull straw-brown, but the shape is intriguingly like a cut diamond.

It has a flat table top with crown  below it and pointed bottom,  like a culet.

How could a spider make such a complex shape?  I wonder the same about the intricacies of webs, also.

I have been waiting for the spiderlings to emerge, so that I can examine it more closely.

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The mama spider diligently guards this nest and puts her body over it when she senses my presence.

This morning I did get a better picture of the sac due to her dazed and soaking wet state when I approached.

She quickly assumed  her guard post when I touched the goldenrod.

I am so glad that she and her offspring are safe and sound after the wind and torrential rains.

I am considering staking the Goldenrod so that Mama Lynx will not have to hang like that.

I know I shouldn’t interfere, but we grandmothers are very protective.

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I am also afraid that “Mr. Flower” will cut it down with the weed-eater.  Oh my!  I’d better stake it now.

I’ll keep you up-dated about the hatching.

FLOWER

 

 

What’s Legs Got To Do With It?

| Flower Roberts

What’s legs got to do with it,  got to do with it?

What’s legs but a way to be in motion?

What’s legs got to do with it, got to do with it?

We need more legs when a leg can just be broken?

 

Why is it we love all things with two legs?

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Male Rubythroat hummingbird at feeder.

or four legs?

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Barley chillin’ under the table.

but if the creature has no legs,

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or six legs,

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Katydid

eight legs

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Writing Spider

or more

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Saddleback caterpillar. Do not touch. They sting.

we scream, run away or kill it?

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Assassin/Wheel bug

I love snakes and bugs.

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Grasshopper on a Stoneshroom.

They are my friends.

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FLOWER

 

 

 

My Weed

| Flower Roberts

There is a whole world on one weed in my garden.

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I did not kill this weed because of a hybrid I fell in love with in Tuscany.

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So when I saw it growing on the bank, I staked it up to compare it with the hybrid.

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What a wonderful weed it has been.

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This wild Passion vine/Maypop/Passiflora incarnata has been a whole laboratory.

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There are ants on the pods and stems.

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The best part is all the caterpillars of various sizes.

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Tiny, shiny, spiky, orange and black caterpillars of Fritillary butterflies.

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I check on this plant every day and find something new.

An added bonus is a beautiful, blue morning glory that grew up into the Passion vine.

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My daddy’s favorite color of blue, bluebird blue.

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I have been blessed by this weed.  I am so thankful I did not kill it.

Where would all those lovely caterpillars be?  Nowhere, that’s where.

Follow the weed.