Lmst

A pair of six-spotted tiger beetles (suggests an ID app) having a go yesterday along Clear Creek Trail in Coralville, Iowa.

#PhotoHour #MacroHour #macro #MacroPhotography #insects #beetle #NaturePhotography #Photography #AltText

EExtreme closeup photo of a pair of mating beetles (likely six-spotted tiger beetles) on sandy soil. One beetle is on the other's back and both are facing up and to the left with their bodies behind them. This species has a metallic green exoskeleton and typically has small spots at particular locations on its wing covers but they aren't visible in this photo (or this is another species of tiger beetle). They have oblong bodies with long abdomens covered in large wing covers, a plated thorax, and a smaller head with two large, black, compound eyes and two, long, segmented metallic green antennae. This species has six, black, segmented legs that have blue markings on the segment closest to its body.

🎵 "My milkweed brings all the bugs to the yard
And they're like, it's better than yours
Damn right it's better than yours
I can teach you, but I have to charge...🎵

#StormHour #PhotoHour #MacroHour #insects #beetles #LighteningBugs #FireFlies #MacroPhotography #macro #Photography #AletText

Extreme closeup photograph of a firefly or lightening bug standing atop unopened common milkweed flower buds in my garden. Common milkweed produces a ball-shaped inflorescence with a large number of small flowers on short stem that radiate around a central stem. Each flower bud is egg-shaped and covered in small hairs and the appearance is similar to the alien eggs loaded with face-huggers from the movie series "Alien". The firefly is likely common eastern firefly (Photinus pyralis) which is in the beetle family. It has an oblong body with black wings covers with a yellow outline, a yellow plate on the back of its thorax with a black spot in the lower center with red patches on either side of the black spot, a black head with large, bulbous compound eyes, two long segmented antennae, and six black segmented legs.

Stink bug on what appears to be a false sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides) though many of our native yellow Asteraceae family flowers look very similar.

#PhotoHour #MacroHour #MacroPhotography #macro #MacroPhoto #insects #InsectPhotography #nature #Photography #AltText

Extreme closeup photograph of a stink bug (an ID app suggests Euschistus tristigmus) standing on the golden yellow florets at the center of a golden yellow flower that appears to be a false sunflower (ID suggests Heliopsis helianthoides). This species of stink bug has a brown, pitted exoskeleton with light tan specks and vague patterning, a tan underside and tan legs covered in small brown dots. Its backside (abdomen) is shaped like a shield topped with a large plate (thorax) above it that tapers to points on either side of the body. The head is also plate-like, connects just below the thorax plate, and tapers toward the mandibles. The stink bug has two brown antennae, two brown bulbous compound eyes, and two ruby-colored simple eyes slightly above and behind the compound eyes.

Northern paper wasp on fading false blue indigo.

#PhotoHour #MacroHour #insects #wasps #pollinators #macro #wildlife #Photography #AltText

Extreme closeup photograph of a northern paper wasp grasping the side of a false blue indigo inflorescence. The flowers appear weathered and pale purple so they may be fading blue indigo but some varieties also have pale lavender petals. The wasp is facing right leaving one eye visible, is mostly in shadow, and it is using its mouth and proboscis to explore the base of one of the pale purple flowers. This species has a black abdomen with brown markings and yellow striping, a black thorax with brown and yellow markings, a black head with brown and yellow markings, two large, brown, compound eyes, two brown antennae, six brown legs, and two amber wings with dark veining.

My little red mini rose apparently responded well to its early spring trim and brought its flower game to the garden. Take it easy, honey. Don't strain yourself😍

#StormHour #PhotoHour #MacroHour #BloomScrolling #MacroPhotography #gardening #FlowerPhotography #flowers #Photography #AltText

Closeup photograph of a mostly opened red mini rose flower with out of focus flowers and green foliage in the background. Roses have flowers made up of multiple layers of overlapping petals that open from the outside slowly revealing the plant's reproductive organs in its center. The flower extends from a small reddish green stem and is supported reddish green sepals that enclosed the flower bud.

Photograph of a cluster of red mini rose flower buds with out of focus clusters of rose buds and green foliage in the foreground and the background. Roses have flowers made up of multiple layers of overlapping petals that open from the outside slowly revealing the plant's reproductive organs in its center. The flower extends from a small reddish green stem and is supported reddish green sepals that in this case enclose the flower bud prior to bloom.

Some purple and red Penstemon blooming along the Iowa River from Saturday's bike ride.

#PhotoHour #MacroHour #BloomScrolling #native #wildflower #flowers #FlowerPhotography #Photography #AltText

Photograph of a Penstemon plant inflorescence with out of focus flowers and green foliage in the background. Penstemon plant inflorescences have a long central, purple-green stems with rows of flowers/buds that surround the stem from bottom to top. The flowers begin to bloom at the bottom of the stem and continue to slowly open till the top-most buds open and the blooming cycle is complete. This variety has tubular flowers with pale purple on the exterior and white in the interior with a yellow signal on the bottom petal. Pollinators enter at the front of the flower where stamen on the upper, front petal spreads pollen on the back of entering insects.

Extreme closeup photograph of a Penstemon plant inflorescence with out of focus flowers and green foliage in the background. Penstemon plant inflorescences have a long central, purple-green stems with rows of flowers/buds that surround the stem from bottom to top. The flowers begin to bloom at the bottom of the stem and continue to slowly open till the top-most buds open and the blooming cycle is complete. This variety has tubular flowers with hot pink on the exterior and white in the interior with a yellow signal on the bottom petal. Pollinators enter at the front of the flower where stamen on the upper, front petal spreads pollen on the back of entering insects.

Closeup photograph of a Penstemon plant inflorescence with out of focus flowers and green foliage in the background. Penstemon plant inflorescences have a long central, purple-green stems with rows of flowers/buds that surround the stem from bottom to top. The flowers begin to bloom at the bottom of the stem and continue to slowly open till the top-most buds open and the blooming cycle is complete. This variety has tubular flowers with pale purple on the exterior and white in the interior with a yellow signal on the bottom petal. Pollinators enter at the front of the flower where stamen on the upper, front petal spreads pollen on the back of entering insects.

Finally got out for a decent bike ride and found some false blue indigo blooming down by the river. Been trying to get it started in my garden but no luck so far but I really love this plant so I'll be trying again this/next yr.

#PhotoHour #MacroHour #BloomScrolling #flowers #FlowerPhotography #wildflowers #Photography #AltText

Photograph a budding false blue indigo inflorescence with out of focus green foliage in the background. False blue indigo plants have purple-blue flowers that extend from a small stem attached horizontally a larger central stalk. The buds run the length of the stalk at regular intervals and sprout from alternating positions around the circumference of the central stem. Each bud has green sepals that enclose the flower's base. The flowers are typical for the legume family with two upper teardrop-shaped petals and four lower petals two of which enclose the other two petals which are joined together, look like a slipper, and enclose the flower's interior.

Closeup photograph a false blue indigo flower with out of focus flowers and green foliage in the background. The view is from the side of the flower. False blue indigo plants have purple-blue flowers that extend from a small stem attached horizontally a larger central stalk. The buds run the length of the stalk at regular intervals and sprout from alternating positions around the circumference of the central stem. Each bud has green sepals that enclose the flower's base. The flowers are typical for the legume family with two upper teardrop-shaped petals and four lower petals two of which enclose the other two petals which are joined together, look like a slipper, and enclose the flower's interior.

Closeup photograph a false blue indigo flower with out of focus flowers and green foliage in the background. The view of the flower is from head on. False blue indigo plants have purple-blue flowers that extend from a small stem attached horizontally a larger central stalk. The buds run the length of the stalk at regular intervals and sprout from alternating positions around the circumference of the central stem. Each bud has green sepals that enclose the flower's base. The flowers are typical for the legume family with two upper teardrop-shaped petals and four lower petals two of which enclose the other two petals which are joined together, look like a slipper, and enclose the flower's interior.

A few more pics of my blooming native southern blue flag irises.

#PhotoHour #MacroHour #BloomScrolling #flowers #FlowerPhotography #gardening #Photography #AltText

Photograph of a southern blue flag iris flower with out of focus green foliage, another iris flower, and a gray, faux-brick wall in the background. This iris variety has three lower sepals, three style arms directly above or on top of the sepals, and three upper standard petals. The three standard petals and three style arms are a lavender purple. The sepals are white with lavender veining and have a yellow patch called a signal that extends from the interior of the sepal to roughly midway down the sepal and is visible below the style arm.

Closeup photograph of a southern blue flag iris flower with out of focus green foliage and a gray, faux-brick wall in the background. This iris variety has three lower sepals, three style arms directly above or on top of the sepals, and three upper standard petals. The three standard petals and three style arms are a lavender purple. The sepals are white with lavender veining and have a yellow patch called a signal that extends from the interior of the sepal to roughly midway down the sepal and is visible below the style arm.

Photograph of a southern blue flag iris flower with out of focus green foliage and a gray, faux-brick wall in the background. This iris variety has three lower sepals, three style arms directly above or on top of the sepals, and three upper standard petals. The three standard petals and three style arms are a lavender purple. The sepals are white with lavender veining and have a yellow patch called a signal that extends from the interior of the sepal to roughly midway down the sepal and is visible below the style arm.

My native southern blue flag irises have bloomed! Planted them in spring of 2023 but they didn't bloom last year. I've loved these since I first came across them in the wild. Simple and delicate and that canary yellow along side the white with lavender veining is to die for 😍

#PhotoHour #MacroHour #BloomScrolling #gardening #Photography #AltText

Some lovely wild morning glories invading the neighbors lawn. ID suggests it's Convolvulus arvensis, a native of Europe and Asia but it is considered a aggressive invasive in the US.

#PhotoHour #MacroHour #BloomScrolling #Photography #AltText

Extreme closeup photograph of a white morning glory flower (possibly Convolvulus arvensis) with out of focus grass and another bloom in the background. This variety of morning glory has the standard trumpet shape and in its center are several white stamens with purple anthers and white pollen and a white pistil.

Itty-bitty red mite 🥺 (likely a sidewalk mite per @nev👍) hanging out in my garden on one of my Canada anemone blooms.

#PhotoHour #MacroHour #arachnid #arachnids #gardening #nature #WildlifePhotography #Photography #AltText

Extreme closeup photograph of a red mite (likely a sidewalk mite) standing on the edge of a white Canada anemone petal with out of focus green stamens to the left and out of focus green foliage in the background. Clover mites are small (0.75–0.85 mm or 0.030–0.033 in) oval, dome-shaped arachnids with red to brown bodies, eight legs, and two palps near its mouth.

My Canada anemone has begun blooming. Flowers are pure white & I used to struggle getting a pics w/o the petals overexposed. Highly aggressive & wants to form a monoculture. Great in the wild but a bit too aggressive for a garden so I have to keep it in check.

#PhotoHour #MacroHour #BloomScrolling #Photography #AltText

Vertical hotograph of a Canada anemone flower (Anemone canadensis) extending from a stem above green foliage with a gray textured wall in the background . This species has five, teardrop-shaped pure white petals that radiate around a center with a large number of white stamens with yellow-green anthers surrounding green pistils.

Closeup photograph of a Canada anemone flower (Anemone canadensis) surrounded by out of focus green foliage. This species has five, teardrop-shaped pure white petals that radiate around a center with a large number of white stamens with yellow-green anthers surrounding green pistils.

Photograph of a Canada anemone flower (Anemone canadensis) surrounded by out of focus green foliage. This species has five, teardrop-shaped pure white petals that radiate around a center with a large number of white stamens with yellow-green anthers surrounding green pistils.

I ❤️ hyacinths but I'm also keen on native plants. Imagine my delight in finding a native wild hyacinth. Just had to have it!

Been busy so almost missed taking pics but caught it at the tippy-top of its bloom.

#StormHour #PhotoHour #MacroHour #Bloomscrolling #gardening #Photography #AltText

Photograph of a wild hyacinth (Camassia scilloides) bloom with out of focus flowers and green foliage in the background. The view is from above looking down on the end of the inflorescence. Wild hyacinths have white flowers with lavender streaks down the length of the petals. Each flower has five pointed petals arranged in a star pattern that radiate from a center with five white stamens with bright yellow anthers and a bright yellow-green pistil with a white stigma.

Freesia shadows and light.

#StormHour #PhotoHour #BloomScrolling #MacroHour #plants #HousePlants #Photography #AltText

Closeup photograph of a freesia plant inflorescence. The flower is in shadow, but the center is translucent and light from the far side of the plant brightens the flower's interior. The inflorescence consists of a row of trumpet-shaped flowers with one flower open and the rest still closed. Each flower has three pointed sepals surrounding three pointed petals. At the center of each flower is a pistil with six stigma and a cluster of stamens. This variety has purple petals surrounding a white and yellow center which surrounds purple stamens with dark purple-black anthers and a purple pistil with purple stigma. This variety also has reflective specs on the petal surface which glow bright violet when the light hits the surface at certain angles.

My freesia hath bloometh!

I purchased my bulbs in 2021 but they've only bloomed once prior this yr. As you can see I use a contraption to keep it upright cause tall plants get too leggy in my window.

Bonus as a houseplant, it smells marvelous!

#StormHour #PhotoHour #MacroHour #plants #HousePlants #photograph #AltText

Photograph of a freesia plant in a bright widow. The plant is surrounded by a scaffolding made up of long bamboo skewers and natural twine in an attempt to keep the plant upright as it grows taller. There is one inflorescence at the end of a long stem and the plant has been turned so that at it reaches for light the stem wraps around the bamboo skewers. The inflorescence consists of a row of trumpet-shaped flowers with one flower open and the rest still closed. Each flower has three pointed sepals surround three pointed petals. At the center of each flower is a pistil with six stigma and a cluster of stamens. This variety has purple petals surrounding a white and yellow center surrounding purple stamens with dark purple-black anthers and a purple pistil with purple stigma.

Photograph of a freesia plant inflorescence. The inflorescence consists of a row of trumpet-shaped flowers with one flower open and the rest still closed. Each flower has three pointed sepals surrounding three pointed petals. At the center of each flower is a pistil with six stigma and a cluster of stamens. This variety has purple petals surrounding a white and yellow center which surrounds purple stamens with dark purple-black anthers and a purple pistil with purple stigma.

Closeup photograph of an unopened freesia flower bud. Freesia flowers have three pointed sepals surround three pointed petals. At the center of each flower is a pistil with six stigma and a cluster of stamens. This variety has purple petals surrounding a white and yellow center which surrounds purple stamens with dark purple-black anthers and a purple pistil with purple stigma.

Violet pair catching some rays.

#PhotoHour #MacroHour #BloomScrolling #flowers #Photography #AltText

Closeup photograph of a pair of common blue violet flowers on green stems with out of focus flowers and green foliage in the background. Both violets are in shadow except for the top of the upper petals which are highlighted from behind by sunlight. Violets have five petals in a zygomorphic arrangement with two teardrop petals above and behind three lower petals that form a cup or trumpet around the center with stigma styles circling and obscuring the entrance to the flower's interior.

Violets are so ubiquitous here that I often don't photograph/notice them. I need to remedy that because they are cute little plants w/ lovely flowers/foliage. Been finding marvelous little volunteer violets out back so I'm transplanting some into the more formal garden.

#PhotoHour #MacroHour #macro #BloomScrolling #Photography #AltText