Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Cleome Serrulata, Wildflower Wednesday

Cleome serrulata is a native self sowing annual.  I was tickled to get some seeds at a plant/seed share, I think, last season. It is the first year I have had them in front of our picture window, anyway.    Planted in the fall, they come up in the spring. I am posting to participate in Gail's at Clay and Limestone Wildflower Wednesday.


Of all the plants in the yard, this plant, also called Rocky Mountain beeplant has had the longest bloom time, and has attracted about as many pollinators as the different kinds of mountain mints. It has been fun seeing lots of American ladies earlier in the season, and now, painted ladies on the blooms
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I am signed up for a class on bee identification in August.  I hope to be able to remember the names of the bees on the blooms in the yard.  It is fun seeing a number of different kinds here.




I am not remembering what this yellow creature is.  I always like to see different kinds of insects feeding near each other.  They seem to be better at sharing than we are sometimes.


 
I am thinking these are a sweat bee of some kind.  It is fun to watch them balancing like this.


 The Lady Bird Johnson site says they get 3 to 6 feet tall.  These are at least 4 feet tall.  They do well in dry soil, and sun to part sun. In addition to providing for bees and butterflies, doves and other small birds eat the seeds. https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CLSE

4 comments:

  1. Gorgeousness. So wish this beauty would grow in my garden! Happy WW and welcome back to blogging.xoxo

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