Melting Bunnies 07-10-2024

Okay... I exaggerate. But it was hot and sweaty at the Botanical Gardens. I almost didn't go after waking up at 6:00 AM this morning and feeling like I had an unearned hangover. I went back to bed for three hours. Shortly after ten, I was feeling well enough head over there. I can either feel bad at home, or I can feel bad at the gardens. The first hour was super humid. My clothes were totally wet and visibly dripping. The second hour was less humid, but very hot. I don't think any of the pictures I took today were worth the effort. Oh well...

This photo was the last one I took. I was on my way out and liked the clouds. I was hoping that meant more rain. I am so gullible!

I didn't even know there was a bee in this shot til I got home.

That is one awesome looking bug. No, I haven't a clue what it is.

I have been enamored with these plants for a couple of weeks now. Today, there was a sign. This is SPINACH???? I almost snuck a leaf for a taste test.

I love this type of flower head on herbs. Those little white blossom are the size of ants.

Love this butterfly. The wings look cut. I never noticed that before.

This is some kind of exotic basil. It is so pretty in person.

I like how these peppers are pointing up.

I tried to make this look good. It just looks dull. I'll go back next week and retry.

I saw several Common Buckeye butterflies today. They were all pretty beat up. Poor guys.

These are over the fountain at the entrance. Not sure what they are.

I love the way these look like balls of fireworks exploding. No idea what they are, either.

Last week I said I would try to get a better picture of these plants. Unfortunately, I got distracted by this Jurassic Park sized bee!

It was stunning in person. So shiny like a sports car.

Another of those firework explosions.

I love honey mesquite. You can actually make a flour out of these beans. I've never eaten it, but it saved a lot of starving settlers in the past.

This is growing all over a lot of the arbors. In the winter, a different plant takes its place.

There is an area of the family area that has a lot of these pink Turk's Caps. I have only seen one pink plant before, but they are natural.

This is really cool. This guy was the size of a bumble bee. It was actually making the white structure on the branch. I don't know if it is a wax or a string of eggs. It was about 100 feet away and off the path.

This one is not zoomed in as much.

Some of the pink ones are a salmon color.

What a cutie!

I am being mean with this shot. When I look at it, the blurriness makes me slightly nauseous. Does that happen to any body else? I know my brain is totally "special".

Trumpet Vines are everywhere in the gardens. Most are more orange.

Isn't this pretty. It looks like some kind of Asian flower arrangement.

I was drawn to these red flowers. I wanted to have one in the foreground with the butterfly ball in back. I need more practice, but this is "OK".

That's a close of of one of the red flowers. They are about 8" across.

I just can't help taking dragon fly shots.

Tried the foreground/background thing again. Didn't work at all.

more of the red trumpet vine

These blue wasps as amazing to watch. The sort of hover and run all over the ground hunting for something. This one was about 2 inches long.

No idea what this is, but I like it. Remember... Most of the Botanical Gardens are not planted with native plants.

No idea what this is, but I like it. Remember... Most of the Botanical Gardens are not planted with native plants.

This was a real treat. There was a tomato from the garden laying on the ground. This thrasher was nibbling on it about five feet from me. After about five minutes, he looked at me and flew off in a panic.