Crab Spider – Tendrils

Gray-headed Coneflower

July, and the hillsides that are my gardens are brilliant with the happiest of yellow thanks to Gray-headed Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata). Native to central and eastern North America. However in Virginia it is considered an escape from cultivation. A herbaceous perennial plant that can be as tall as four or five feet, and quite narrow. Tall and spindly. But in a mass planting they’re a joy.

Attractive to pollinators, this coneflower is popular with bees, butterflies, wasps, flies, and beetles. AND the occasional Crab Spider.

Come autumn and winter, the seed heads will bring on Goldfinches and other songbirds. A mighty good reason to leave those gardens as they are. A good excuse to let those seed heads be during the winter.

But for now I’m thoroughly enjoying the lift those petals of sunshine yellow bring to my heart.

Deptford Pinks

It’s not native, which often means, “Do I really want this plant?” But this one brings with it such a charming color. A color that just twinkles with delight.

This is a Deptford Pink (Dianthus armeria). And that is an itty bitty Crab Spider perched on one of its five white speckled petals. This flower is just one half inch across. Really an minuscule spider!

Deptford Pink is not an invasive. The word invasive would be inappropriate for this dainty flower. It just shows up from time to time, not in an offensive sort of way, but in a timid, cautious way.

Right now on April 23, small plants of Deptford Pink are just beginning to come up. Opposite leaves that are long and quite narrow. When I see one coming up I cheer it on. Welcome it wherever it is found. It’s a tall slender plant growing up to two feet tall though I rarely see any that tall. Often I’ll only see one bloom at a time. An annual, biennial or short-lived perennial.

Both the Cabbage White Butterfly and the Deptford Pink are native to Europe. The flowers bloom from June to September. Opening in the morning and closing in the late afternoon. Dots rich in pink sprinkled across the landscape. Something to look forward to.

Tall Anemone

Tall Anemone (Anemone virginiana). A gift that shows up in my gardens thanks to Mother Nature. Filled with delight when it makes an appearance as a volunteer.

A plant native to eastern North America where it can be found in 38 of the 50 United States. In the north from Maine to Minnesota and clear to the south, Georgia and Louisiana.

A beautiful flower which has a trick up its little sleeve. Those “petals” of white or pale green are not petals at all but are sepals. And take a look at the photo above, with the crab spider on the lower right sepal. It’s just waiting to pounce on a pollinator that may come by.

The central yellow green area is the pistillate head which is encircled by stamens topped with yellow or light brown anthers. Those anthers are covered with pollen that lures hoverflies, sweat bees and other small bees.

Summer moves along. The sepals fall away and the pistillate head expands as seeds are created.

Those seeds become surrounded in a woolly world. Fluff that becomes a transportation system. Caught by the wind the seeds are sent on their way.

But that transportation system takes time. See that snow? Over the winter the seed heads persist waiting for the perfect breeze. And waiting for something else.

As the pollen lures pollinators, the fluff of the seed pod lures nest builders.

Come spring birds are assembling nests. Nests occasionally of fluff.

A Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus) knows where to find its fluff. In the garden next to the daffodils. Perfect for the nest.