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.
