Wednesday, October 5, 2022

BEES AND FLOWERS AT GREEN SPRING GARDENS - 9-24-22

I was happy to see all the bees enjoying the flowers.  It was a cloudy day and there were no butterflies, but the bees kept my shutter finger happy.  
I am sharing the bees today, and another favorite, the Spider Flower (or Cleome as I have known it).


So, its other names are Cleome, Pink queen, Grandfather's whiskers, Spider plant and Spider legs.  Its botanical name is Tarenaya hassleriana and it is native to South Ameria.  


As pretty as it looks, it is a low-maintenance plant that needs full sun or partial shade and well-drained soil.  It is a perennial and tolerates all types of soil, as long as it is well-drained.  Under its petals it has long and slender leaves, like spider's long feet, hence its name.  In the summer months hummingbirds are attracted to its nectar.  In the fall when the plant goes to seed, seed-eating birds such as finches and sparrows will consume the seeds and aid in their dispersal.  


Spider flowers are large and sturdy plants that grow from 3 to 6 feet tall.  The palmate leaves have five to seven leaflets, and the stems have spines.  Some newer varieties do not have spines however.  I read that you should deadhead spider plants throughout the season, but leave the final fall flush of bloom on the plants if you want to reseed them for the following spring.





 

40 comments:

  1. Pretty flower and the bees, always love to see bees.

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    1. Thank you Margaret, always good to see the bees enjoying those flowers :)

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  2. Wow, all different bees as well. I think my favorite are the double bees on the yellow flower. I have always found the Spider flowers to be a bit creepy.

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    1. Hi Ginny, I was glad to get pictures of differents types of bees. The orange flower is a pretty one, that's for sure :)

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  3. Echoing Margaret D. And our cleome never get that tall. Or come back in the following years.

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    1. Interesting Sue, I have only ever seen it in botanical gardens :)

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  4. Love the flowers and the colours.

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  5. Hello Denise :=)
    Such a beautiful array of colourful flowers and different kinds of bees. The Spider Flowers are pretty, and a good source of food for the birds. "Grandfathers Whiskers"
    made me smile, but just as apt as calling it Spider Flower. I wonder what purpose they serve if any!

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    1. Thank you Breathtaking :) That name made me smile too. I will have to look up more information sometime :)

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  6. Those flowers are really pretty. I don't think I've ever seen those before. Those bees sure are enjoying themselves.

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  7. I love bees, all the more for the drama of their disappearing. You did so well to capture them with your camera. Beautiful blooms as well.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. Thank you Amalia, I'm glad you enjoyed them. The stories about the are worrisome.

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  8. Replies
    1. Obrigado, fico feliz que tenha gostado :) Um abraço e continuação de boa semana para você também.

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  9. Hello,
    The bees should be happy with all those lovely flowers! Great photos. Take care, enjoy your day!

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    1. Hi Eileen, they certainly should be :) You take care and enjoy your day also.

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  10. I love the spider flower. Unfortunate name, as abhor spiders.

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    1. Cleome might be a better name for you then Gigi :) I know spiders have that effect on people. I didn't like to find one on the bedroom wall as a kid. Those garden spiders were huge!

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  11. The bees are certainly enjoying your lovely flowers. I made note of the Spider plant. So nice to hear hummingbirds and finch like them. I must see if I can add them to our garden.

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    1. Hi Martha Ellen :) I would like to try planting some also.

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  12. I never heard cleome called spider flower but it's a perfect name for it -- and one of my favorites. Gorgeous photos, all.

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  13. Fun captures of the bees and that is a pretty flower, too. I see why it's called a Spider Flower!

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    1. Glad you enjoyed Ellen, yes I can see that too :)

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  14. What a great collage! Each pictures makes me smile and you put them all together beautifully. I play a word game online on the New York Times called Spelling Bee and every day their website features a photograph of a bee on a flower -- every one of yours is better than most of those!

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    1. Thank you Sallie :) I am happy you enjoyed. That's interesting about the New York Times. My Mother-in-law used to play their crossword every Sunday. I have this great memory of her sitting in her chair and doing them on a weekend visit. Such a good memory :)

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  15. Pretty flower and really nice closeup pictures of the bees

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  16. Oh my! Those are beautiful flowers.

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