#FloweroftheDay – Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography

Floral Friday/The #Flower Hour #47 — 2026 September 11

Tithonia rotundifolia

These sunflowers are not the type of flower you’d normally picture if someone said Sunflower, however, they are still beautiful in their own unique way.

The Mexican Sunflower is a plant in the Asteraceae family whose native origins range from Mexico to Central America.

They’re beloved by gardeners for their bright, fiery orange or red-orange petals and yellow centers, which resemble small sunflowers.

They thrive in full sun and warm weather, which is typical for Gastonia’s weather. They are attractive to pollinators such as butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds which absolutely adore them, making them a fantastic addition to any garden looking to support local wildlife.

*Tithonia rotundifolia, the Red sunflower or Mexican sunflower*

The Tithonia rotundifolia, aka Mexican sunflower is not actually a true sunflower from the Helianthus family. However, their daisy-like blooms give off a similar sunny vibe. They are quite resilient and easy to grow. These flowers are surrounding my neighbours mailbox giving colour and beauty to the neighbourhood.

Click on images to enlarge.

Terri’s The Flower Hour #47-2026.09.11

Also posting in remembrance of …

Bren’s Floral Friday

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Unity Community; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Stop and smell the flowers. Admire them and the beauty found in nature. Have a fantastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Macro Monday – 2026 September 07

Azalea

Azaleas differ from other Rhododendrons by only having five (5) stamens per flower instead of the typical ten (10) or more on other Rhododendrons. They are popular ornamental plants, known for their showy blooms in a wide variety of colours.

Their colours range from vibrant pink to white, purple, and red. I normally see the pink and red varieties in the gardens around town. They are always available to be seen in the Garden in The Farm at The Schiele Museum of Natural History in Gastonia, North Carolina.

Click on image to enlarge.

Macro Monday (MM)

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: The Garden; The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a pleasant and funtastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Floral Friday/The #Flower Hour — 2026 September 4

Liriope muscari

Liriope muscari is a species of flowering plant from the region of Easr Asia. It is also known as Big Blue Lilyturf, Lilyturf, Border Grass, and Monkey Grass.

Lilyturf is highly valued for its beautiful striped leaves and its purple flower spikes. It is an evergreen perennial, meaning its foliage stays green year round. Gardeners tend to favourite as a border plant, ground cover (as it usually used here), or as a means to help prevent erosion. It spreads nicely and creates a dense mat.

Liriope muscari usually blooms in late summer to early Autumn/Fall. Coleman first notice the purple spike flowers a little over a week ago and insisted I take pictures with my phone. As the days progressed more and more of the lilac-purple flower spikes began popping up bringing colour to the garden.

Click on images to enlarge.

Terri’s The #Flower Hour

Carol’s Thursday Trios -2026.09.04

Also posting in remembrance of …

Bren’s Floral Friday

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

The #Flower Hour #46— 2026 September 01

Floral ABC’s

Starring P, Q, and R

This week Terri is focusing on Floral ABC’s concentrating on PQR. Let’s have some fun. Here are my PQR Florals for this week’s challenge.

The P’s …
- Poppies

*Matilija poppy*
(Romneya coulteri)
Aka the fried egg poppy.

Papaver croceum Ledeb.
Papaveraceae Ice poppy

Pansy …

Plantaginaceae (Plaintain Family)
- Purpurea …

*Digitalis purpurea*
*(aka Common foxglove)*

Plumerias …

The Q’s … (I didn’t find many)
- Queen Anne’s lace

*Queen Anne’s lace herb*
*(Daucus carota)*

Queen Anne’s lace,
aka Wild carrot
*(Daucus carota)*

The R’s …
- Roses …

Red Columbine

*Red Columbine*
*(Aquilegia canadensis)*

Click on images to enlarge.

Terri’s The Flower Hour #46 – Floral ABC’s-PQR

Also posting in remembrance of …

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

God Bless. Admire the Flowers and the beauty found in nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Macro Monochrome Monday – 2026 August 31st

Click on image to enlarge.

Macro Monday (MM)

Monday Monochrome

Monochrome Monday

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Front Garden; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a pleasant and funtastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

The #Flower Hour #45— 2026 August 28

Also Posting for Cee’s Flower of the Day

To Be or

Not to Be

Common

Following Terri’s and Brian’s lead on Sunflowers, I went in search of Sunflowers amongst my archives. I found some common sunflowers and some uncommon ones as well.

Here are my entries …

Click on images to enlarge.

Terri’s The Flower Hour #45

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Bren’s Floral Friday

God Bless. Admire the Flowers and the beauty found in nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

The #Flower Hour #45— 2026 August 25 — Your Choice

Red and Yellow

To Brighten the Day

Looking across the road I spotted a few plants near Coleman’s bus stop. Below are the flowers I noticed …

*Canna indica, aka Indian shot,*
*African arrowroot*

And just a few steps away in front of a small apartment complex I found this yellow flowers.

*Euonymus japonicus*
*(evergreen spindle) or*
*Japanese Spindletree*

Click on images to enlarge.

Terri’s The Flower Hour #45

Also posting in remembrance of …

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

God Bless. Admire the Flowers and the beauty found in nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Evening Primrose: Nature’s Delicate Night Blooms

*Oenothera cespitosa,*
*aka Tufted Evening-Primrose*
*or Fragrant Evening-Primrose*

Click on Image to enlarge.

Debbie’s Six Word Saturday

Terri’s The #Flower Hour

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Plus

Location: Off I-15/Hwy 50; Emery, Utah, USA

God Bless. Stay Strong, Spread Cheer, Love, and Happiness. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Floral Friday/The #Flower Hour — 2026 August 21

Lingering On

The Garden Roses on the Shrub in the front yard are lingering on in this extremely hit and humid summer climate.

Only a few like these are still fighting to keep blooming.

Loveliest of lovely things are they on earth that soonest pass away. The rose that lives its little hour is prized beyond the sculptured flower.

–©️William C. Bryant

We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses. -Abraham Lincoln

“Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.” ~ Luther Burbank

Click on images to enlarge.

Terri’s The #Flower Hour

Also posting in remembrance of …

Bren’s Floral Friday

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Unity Community; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

The #Flower Hour #44— 2026 August 18

Floral ABC’s

Starring M, N, and O

This week Terri is focusing on Floral ABC’s concentrating on MNO. Let’s have some fun. Here are my MNO Florals for this week’s challenge.

Plant M:

*Located at the*
*Schiele Museum*
*of Natural History’s*
*Garden in the Farm*
*in Gastonia, NC*

Plant N:

*Located near the*
*Historic Baltimore*
*Fishing Pier*
*in Cramerton, NC*

Plant O:

*Located at the*
*Daniel Stowe*
*Botanical Garden*
*in Belmont, NC*

Click on images to enlarge.

Terri’s The Flower Hour #44 – Floral ABC’s

Key:

Plant M – Marigold, aka Calendula officinalis, Mary’s gold, common marigold, the pot marigold, Scotch marigold
Plant N – Narcissus pseudonarcissus, aka
the wild daffodil or Lent lily
Plant O – Moth Orchids (Phalaenopsis)

Also posting in remembrance of …

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

God Bless. Admire the Flowers and the beauty found in nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Floral Friday/The #Flower Hour — 2026 August 14

Random Floral

It has been extremely hot and humid in our area causing havoc on gardens and flowers to wither and fade away. Currently, There are not many left in bloom. However, I did manage to find a few.

These are from The Garden in The Farm at The Schiele Museum of Natural History …

A Pair of Yellow Zinnias …

A Look at a Couple of Rhododendron indicum, aka Azalea indica L. …

Rhododendron indicum, aka Southern Indian azalea, has showy, vibrant funnel-shaped red, scarlet, or pink flowers that bloom in mid to late spring and occasionally again in the fall. ]These are both from the same Rhododendron (Azalea) Shrub.]

Rhododendron indicum,
aka Satsuki azalea or
*Southern Indian azalea.*

Now before we leave let’s take a look at an array of Sulfur cosmos (Cosmos sulphureus) …

***Sulfur cosmos***
**(Cosmos sulphureus)**
***The #Flower Hour***
**Cee’s Flower of the Day**
***Bren’s Floral Friday***

That’s all I have for y’all today. Till next time, have a fabulously fun and productive weekend filled with love, laughter, and happiness.

Click on images to enlarge.

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #43-The Randoms

Also posting in remembrance of …

Bren’s Floral Friday

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: The Garden; The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

The #Flower Hour #43— 2026 August 11 — From my Yard

Oh How They Fade & Wither

Isaiah 40:8: “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” KJV

***Terri’s The #Flower Hour***
**Cee’s Flower of the Day**

“For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:” I Peter 1:24 KJV

Click on images to enlarge.

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #43-Your Choice

Also posting in remembrance of …

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

God Bless. Admire the Flowers and the beauty found in nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

One Word Sunday (OWS): 2026 August 10th — Reality?

Vintage Americana

Reality or Not?

Click on image to enlarge.

Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Reality

Camera: Apple iPhone 5

Location: Piccolo’s Italian Restaurant; Lenoir, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Enjoy nature’s beauty. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

Sunday Stills 2026 August 10:

*Sunday Stills*
*Monthly Color Challenge*

Good Day everyone! This week Terri with Second Wind Leisure Perspectives has given us the prompt of #Yellow Hues for the Sunday Stills Monthly Color Challenge . She is featuring the Ochre and Saffron yellows, but is allowing any shades of #Yellow.

Let’s take a look at what #Yellow’s I have found …

First, here are some water reflections with #Yellow …

*Yellow Water Reflections*
*in Lake Crandall*
*Anne Springs Close Greenway*

And a few tress with yellow leaves reflected in Lake Haigler at Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, South Carolina.

*Yellow Tree Reflections*
*in Lake Haigler*

Moving right along in nature we spot a solitary yellow tree and a few yellow Bromeliad Guzmania.

*Golden Larch*
*Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden*

Yellow Bromeliad Guzmania
William H. Williamson III
Orchid Conservatory
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
Belmont, North Carolina

Now we’ll take a last look at yellow with images of yellow vehicles …

*2022 John Deere 700L LGP Crawler Dozer*

At last, but not least, Coleman wearing a yellow shirt …

Coleman in 2022 at
Anne Springs Close Greenway

Click on images to enlarge.

God Bless. Admire the beautiful Flowers. Enjoy Nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

Little Hands Gently Cradle Liriope Bloom

*Liriope muscari,*
*aka Big Blue Lilyturf*

The border of are front yard is landscaped with these plants which to me are filler borders used by landscapers to dress up a yard. I never knew they actually flowered until Coleman discovered the tiny macro flowers started to bloom on a few of the plants.

Coleman is holding the leaves back to ensure that I could accurately photograph them. He always points out new blooms to me asking me to take a picture. If he hadn’t shown it to me I probably never would’ve noticed them.

Click on image to enlarge.

Debbie’s Six Word Saturday-2026.08.08

Terri’s The #Flower Hour-2026.08.08

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Bren’s Floral Friday

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Unity Community; Gastonia. North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take time to admire the little things in life. Admire the beautiful flowers and how they bloom. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

The #Flower Hour #42— 2026 August 05

Floral ABC’s

Starring J, K, L

This week Terri is focusing on Floral ABC’s concentrating on JKL. Let’s have some fun. Here are my JKL Florals for this week’s challenge.

Plant J:

*Japanese honeysuckle*
*(Lonicera japonica)*

Plant K:

Plant L:

Click on images to enlarge.

Terri’s The Flower Hour #42 – Floral ABC’s

Also posting in remembrance of …

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

God Bless. Admire the Flowers and the beauty found in nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Floral Friday/The #Flower Hour — 2026 July 31

PLeucanthemum vulgare

The Oxeye Daisy are beautiful to look win a field. They are good for more than looking at as they are edible. When you harvest them make sure they are perfect looking, not wilted or brown. If you’re not using them the same day you harvest them you may choose to keep thin a vase for a few days.

The spoon-shaped basal leaves can be added to salads and dishes just as you would add a herb (best done in Spring). Moving on to Summer, the white flower heads can be used in salads and if you like they can be added to spring rolls. No need to cook the Oxeye Daisies, as the entire plant’s edible and can be eaten raw. For those adventurous food connoisseurs, the large flowers make an excellent garnish. Anyone adventurous enough to try eating any part of all of the Oxeye Daisy plant? I’ve not yet been adventurous enough to eat flowers in my food I prepare, but who knows maybe I’d like it and just don’t know it.

Click on each image to enlarge.

Terri’s The Flower Hour #41

Also posting in remembrance of …

Bren’s Floral Friday

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens

Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Daniel Stowe Conservancy; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

The #Flower Hour #41— 2026 July 28

Potted Plants & Flowers

This week Terri from Second Wind Leisure is giving us a theme of Plants/Flowers in Planters. Most of my recent flower shots have not been located in planters, therefore, I went searching through my archives to locate a few images that should fit the challenge.

Here are my entries …

Click on images to enlarge.

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #41-Plants/Flowers in Planters

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

God Bless. Admire the Flowers and the beauty found in nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Macro Monday – 2026 July 27

Rudbeckia hirta

Click on image to enlarge.

Macro Monday (MM)

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250 mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take time to enjoy nature. Admire the beautiful flowers and plants. Have a funtastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

The #Flower Hour #40 — 2026 July 24

GHI Flowers

For Floral ABc’s

This week Terri is focusing on Floral ABC’s concentrating on GHI. Let’s have some fun. Here are my GHI Florals for this week’s challenge.

Click on images to enlarge.

Terri’s The Flower Hour #40 – Floral ABC’s

Key:

Plant G – Gaillardia pulchella (Aka Indian Blanket)
Plant H – Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Luna Pink Swirl’
- (Hardy Hibiscus)
Plant I – Iris tenax
- Aka Toughleaf Iris, Tough-leaf Iris, Oregon Iris

Also posting in remembrance of …

Bren’s Floral Friday

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

God Bless. Admire the Flowers and the beauty found in nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2026 Whatsoever is Lovely: Beautiful Flowers & Butterflies #2

XingfuMama hosts the weekly challenge Whatsoever Is Lovely. The challenge is simple. Just reflect back over your week and see what is lovely, whether a thing or a moment, share in a post what is precious and lovely to you.

This week I am continuing with Whatsoever is Lovely to me; Beautiful Flowers & Butterflies #2. These images were taken on Coleman’s & my recent visit to the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont, North Carolina. The first area we visited was the Butterfly Bungalow. We had not previously visited the Butterfly Bungalow since the times we’ve visited Daniel Stowe Conservancy before were in the Springtime.

The best time of the year to visit the Butterfly Bungalow is during the Summer. Why do you think Summer is the best time to visit. Let me tell you. It is the best and only season to visit the Butterfly Bungalow due to the fact that it is a seasonal attraction that only operates from late May through early September, the warmest months of the year.

For this post I am focusing on the Monarch Butterfly. The Monarch Butterflies eagerly feast on Buddleja davidii (Butterfly Bush) because it functions as an elite nectar source. The nectar of Buddleja davidii is rich in sucrose, glucose, and fructose which offers a dense spike of immediate energy. The blooms of Buddleja davidii emit a powerful sweet, honey-like aroma that attracts Monarchs from a distance.

Below are Monarch Butterfly photos I took on our visit …

Monarch Butterfly on Summer Lilac aka Buddleja davidii (Butterfly Bush)
Buddleja davidii (Butterfly Bush)

These pictured here are maintained in the controlled environment of the Butterfly Bungalow inside the Gardens of Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont, North Carolina.

Click on images to enlarge.

Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge-2026 Week 28

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.

Location: Butterfly Bungalow; Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Bely, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a lovely weekend filled with love, joy, and laughter. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Thursday Trios: (on Friday) 2026.07.17

“Cattleya Orchid”

While these may look like real, they are not. These “Cattleya Orchid” are glass blown orchids created by master glassblower Jason Gamrath. He specifically tailored this highly intricate large scale Cattleya Orchid glass statue for Daniel Stowe Conservancy (formerly known as Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden). His Cattleya sculpture was designed to display all progressive phases of the flower’s life. This statue was originally apart of a Grandiflora Exhibition. Jason created the Cattleya Orchid glass statue by using highly intense, collaborative modelling and glass-blowing process.

Even though Jason calls the sculpture “Cattleya Orchid” according to the Daniel Stowe Conservancy website call these flowers Glass Daffodils. However, in its description it calls the statue an orchid piece stating that Jason’s purpose was to allow people to “observe with the same eyes through which ‘he’ humbly and graciously experiences our natural world” (Quote by Jason Gamrath).

Click on each image to enlarge.

Carol’s Thursday Trios-2026.07.17

Also posting in Remembrance of:

Bren’s Floral Friday

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: William H. Williamson, III Orchid Conservatory; Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Get Outdoors. Take a Walk/Hike. Enjoy Nature’s Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Sunday Stills 2026 July 13th:

Groups of Three (3) or More

in the Gardens of

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

Good Day everyone! This week Terri with Second Wind Leisure Perspectives has given us the prompt of Groups of Three (3) or More. I have selected Groups of Three or More in The Gardens at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. Having selected floral Groups of Three (3) or More I am linking this post with Terri’s The #Flower Hour.

Click on rack image to enlarge.

Terri’s Sunday Stills-Groups of 3 or More

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #39

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm and Altura UV Filter Attachment.

Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Admire the beautiful Flowers. Enjoy Nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

Silent Sunday: 2026 July 12

Hemerocallis ‘Autumn Minaret’
Aka Autumn Minaret Daylily

Silent Sunday-2026.07.12

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel 2000D with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take time to enjoy the flowers. Get Outdoors and commune with nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

One Word Sunday (#OWS) —2026 July 12 — Bicoloured

Debbie with Travel with Intent has selected the word Bicoloured for this week’s One Word Sunday theme. When I first saw the term Bicoloured, I thought of duotoned images not two distinct colours or shades. Hence the last images has both Bicoloured and Duotoned.

Floral Examples …

One …

Two …

Pink and White Phalaenopsis
Aka Moth Orchids

Duotoned vs. Bicoloured …

One Word Sunday (OWS)
Light blue and brown duotone colorization of the **Prairie Castle Playground’s Net Tunnel.**

Natural light brown and Black are the colours of the Net Tunnel which is made from thick sturdy rope as part of the **Prairie Castle Playground** inside **Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden.**

Click on images to enlarge.

Debbie’s One Word Sunday (#OWS)-Bicoloured

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Cameras: 1-2) Canon EOS Rebel 2000D with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment; 3-4) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Admire the Flowers. Be observant of the amazingly beautiful colours found in nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2026 Whatsoever is Lovely: Beautiful Flowers & Butterflies #1

Summertime in the Carolinas is extremely hot and humid, too hot to want to walk around outside. However, it is the best time of year to view and watch the amazing fluttering of beautiful Butterflies. What better way to observe them than in an enclosed Butterfly Bungalow.

That’s exactly what Coleman and I did on Wednesday. It was wonderful and oh so lovely to watch the Butterflies flittering around. They move so fast it was difficult to keep up with them to photograph them.

Here’s a few Butterflies flitting to and fro enjoying the nectar of their favourite flowers.

This week’s featured Butterfly is the Heliconius charithonia, also known as Zebra Longwing or Zebra heliconian. It is distinctively known for its long, black wings with pale yellow stripes. Their wing pattern serves as a warning to potential predators that their toxicity.

One thing which is unique to the Zebra Longwing is that the adult butterflies feed on both nectar and pollen. The pollen enables them synthesize cyanogenic glycosides which makes their bodies toxic to predators.

The Zebra Longwing Butterflies may be spotted in South America, Central America, the West Indies, and the Southeastern United States. Adults will migrate into the Carolinas during the warmer summer months. These pictured here are maintained in the controlled environment of the Butterfly Bungalow inside the Gardens of Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont, North Carolina.

Click on images to enlarge.

Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge-2026 Week 27

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.

Location: Butterfly Bungalow; Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Bely, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a lovely weekend filled with love, joy, and laughter. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Thursday Trios: (on Friday) 2026.07.10

Floral Trios

Calibrachoa x hybrida
Aka Million Bells;
*Mini Petunia; Trailing Petunia*

*Summerific® ‘Cranberry Crush’*
*Rose Mallow Hibiscus*

Click on each image to enlarge.

Carol’s Thursday Trios-2026.07.10

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location:

God Bless. Get Outdoors. Take a Walk/Hike. Enjoy Nature’s Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

The #Flower Hour #38 — 2026 July 10

DEF Flowers

for Floral ABCs

Floral D:

Floral E:

Floral F:

Click on image to enlarge.

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #38

Also posting in remembrance of …

Bren’s Floral Friday

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

The #Flower Hour #38 — 2026 July 07

Carduus nutans

Click on image to enlarge.

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #38

Also posting in remembrance of …

Bren’s Floral Friday

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens

Location: Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

Floral Friday/The #Flower Hour #37: Patriotic Colours in Florals — 2026 July 03

Happy Fourth of July!

RED …

WHITE …

*Pyrus calleryana ‘Bradford’*
*aka Callery Pear*

BLUE …

Happy Birthday America!

Click on each image to enlarge.

Terri’s The Flower Hour #37

Also posting in remembrance of …

Bren’s Floral Friday

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens; Apple iPhone 13 Pro; Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

Macro Monday – 2026 June 29

Lilium lancifolium

Click on each image to enlarge.

Macro Monday (MM)

Terri’s The Flower Hour

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250 mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a terrific week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Floral Friday/The #Flower Hour— 2026 June 26

Trio of

Hosta ‘Fragrant Bouquet’

As the months pass by it seems like there’s another plant deciding to bloom sharing its exquisitely alluring beauty for all to see and admire.

This variegated foliage plant, I had thought was just an ornamental landscaping element (to me) surprisingly blossomed recently. Coleman said to me, “Take a picture.” So I complied with his request and am sharing a couple with y’all.

The Hosta ‘Fragrant Bouquet’ also referred to as Plantain Lily is a fast growing perennial with variegated foliage and is highly aromatic with its summer blooms. It forms a lush, open mound of heart-shaped, apple-green leaves highlighted by creamy-yellow margins.

It has large trumpet-shaped flowers that range in colour from near-white to pale lilac. The sweet fragrance is said to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, however, I have not seen evidence of that on this plant.

*First stage of Blooming*
*Plantain Lily*

It is planted next to a hydrangea bush and almost covering it completely as if hidden from view until it began to increase in growth and its blossoms became evident in the summer breeze.

Terri’s The Flower Hour #36

Carol’s Thursday Trios-2026.06.26

Also posting in remembrance of …

Bren’s Floral Friday

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion

Location: Unity Community; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

The #Flower Hour #36 — 2026 June 23

Viola sororia

Click on image to enlarge.

Terri’s The Flower Hour #36

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take time to Enjoy Nature’s Beauty. Smell the amazing fragrance of flowers. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Macro Monday – 2026 June 22

Hydrangea quercifolia

Click on each image to enlarge.

Macro Monday (MM)

Terri’s The Flower Hour

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250 mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: The Nature Trail; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a terrific week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Garden Maintained by Master Gardener Volunteers

The Mexican Fire Bush (Hamelia patens) is grown as an annual in Gastonia, North Carolina. It is a vibrant, fast-growing tropical shrub known for its fiery orange-red tubular flowers. It is highly prized for attracting pollinators like hummingbirds and butterflies. It typically grows 2 to 4 feet tall in a single season. Sinc North Carolina winters are too cold for it to remain evergreen, the plant will experience dieback, but it serves as an exceptional summer filler for local gardens.

The gardens at The Schiele Museum of Natural History are supported and maintained by the Master Gardener Group of Gaston County. This is not your traditional private garden club, but instead it is an organization that is a specialized volunteer network extension of the NC State Extension Master Gardener Program. The certified Extension Master Gardener Volunteers manage and improve the specialized flora spaces at The Schiele Museum which include The Farm and Along the entrance and nature trail. The Garden in the Farm at The Schiele Museum showcases Piedmont-native agricultural crops and plant varieties.

Click on image to enlarge.

Six Word Saturday-2026.06.20

Terri’s Flower Hour #35

Remembering ….

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Bren’s Floral Friday

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter Attachment.

Location: Entrance Gardens; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take Care. Help those in need. Spread Love and Kindness all around you. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Which Way Challenge (CWWC): Any Which Way in Your Neighbourhood [06.19.2026]

Welcome back to another Which Way Challenge (CWWC). I trust everyone has had a good week and able to spend some time to take a walk or hike in the vast outdoors. This week’s theme for the Which Way Challenge is CWWC: Any Which Way in Your Neighbourhood 06.19.2026]. The Which Way can be Any Which Way you choose in your own neighbourhood as long as the Which Way is clearly discernible. As always signs are always welcome.

For further information regarding the Which Way Challenge (CWWC) feel free to check out the home page here.

Here are my entries …

*Unity Baptist Church Easter Activities*

Click on each image to enlarge.

Thank you to those who have participated and supported the Which Ways Challenge. I appreciate y’all sharing your Which Ways with us.

For an idea of other’s Which Ways from this past week’s challenge, be sure to click on the following links below.

Brian’s Yellow in (yellow out)

Marina from In Primo Piano’s yellow

Cath’s Which Way… {Spotto for Walking}

Rich from Serendipity’s The Yellow Trail

Dawn’s Down a Country Road

Dan’s The Crayola Box of 8 – Green — CFFC

Deb’s Which Way Challenge-Any Which Way in Your Neighbourhood [06.19.2026]

The Flower Hour #35: Floral ~~ABCs~~ (Not) 2026.06.19)

Thursday Trios-2026.06.19

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Get Outdoors. Have an Adventure. Enjoy the Beauty all around you. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us.

***Note: Next Week’s theme will be CWWC: Any Which Way with Blue Along a Trail, Pathway, or Walkway [06.26.2026]

Macro Monday – 2026 June 15

Allium fistulosum

Click on each image to enlarge.

Click on image to enlarge.

Macro Monday (MM)

Terri’s The Flower Hour-2026.06.15

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250 mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: The Garden; The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a terrific week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Which Way Challenge (CWWC) 2026: Any Which Way with Yellow along a Trail, Path, or Road

Cee’s Challenge
+ Terri’s The #Flower Hour

Welcome back to another Which Way Challenge (CWWC). I trust everyone has had a good week and able to spend some time to take a walk or hike in the vast outdoors. This week’s theme for the Which Way Challenge is CWWC: Any Which Way with Yellow along a Trail, Path, or Road. The Which Way can be any Trail, Path or Road as long as the Which Way is clearly discernible. As always signs are always welcome.

For this week’s Which Way Challenge I am linking with Dan’s Fun Foto Challenge (CFFC) – The Crayola Box of 8 Yellow. Please feel free to connect with his post by clicking here.

For further information regarding the Which Way Challenge (CWWC) feel free to check out the home page here.

*Yellow Sign on*
*Avon and Catawba Creeks Greenway*

And as a Bonus I’m adding a few Yellow Flowers … For Cee’s Flower of the Day, Bren’s Floral Friday, & Terri’s The #Flower Hour.

*Solidago nemoralis, aka gray goldenrod, prairie goldenrod, & dyersweed goldenrod*

Click on each image to enlarge.

Thank you to those who have participated and supported the Which Ways Challenge. I appreciate y’all sharing your Which Ways with us.

For an idea of other’s Which Ways from this past week’s challenge, be sure to click on the following links below.

Brian’s On the road

Dawn’s Which Way: Bent Tree in GW National Forest in Summer

Geriatri’x’ Fotogallery’s At The Sea

Deb’s Which Way Challenge (CWWC) 2026: Any Which Way with Yellow along a Trail, Path, or Road

Terri’s The Flower Hour #34

Cosmic Photo Challenge (#CosPhoChal)-What’s Flowering Where You Are?

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Bren’s Floral Friday

God Bless. Get Outdoors. Take a Walk/Hike. Enjoy Nature’s Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

*** Note Next Week’s theme: CWWC: Any Which Way in Your Neighbourhood

The #Flower Hour #34 — 2026 June 09

Fragaria virginiana

The Fragaria virginiana, is also known Scarlett Strawberry and Wild Strawberry. It is a flowering perennial that produces edible fruit. It spreads by runners making it an easy choice for use as groundcover. It can also be used as erosion control holding soil on slopes.

Wild Strawberries are native to North America, from Newfoundland and Alberta in Canada , south down Georgia, Tennessee, and Oklahoma as well as the states in between like North and South Carolina. The plant produces small white flowers in the Spring with tiny, highly flavorful red berries following in late spring and early summer. They are primarily pollinated by a diverse mix of native bees, hoverflies, and small butterflies.

*North Carolina’s native*
*Wild Strawberry*

These Scarlett Strawberries (Fragaria virginiana) are grown in the garden in The Farm at The Schiele Museum of Natural History in Gastonia, North Carolina. The Garden also contains several bee hives providing the bees which pollinate many of the flowers grown here.

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #34-2026.06.09

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: The Garden; The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take time to Enjoy Nature’s Beauty. Smell the amazing fragrance of flowers. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2026 CFFC: Crayola Yellow

Yellow Spotted

in the Neighbourhood

CFFC – The Crayola Box of 8

Dan from No Facilities hosts the Fun Foto Challenge at and this week he is asking for our The Crayola Box of 8 -Yellow. I have gone into my recent files to see what I could locate to best represent this week’s theme. I am also linking this Friday’s CWWC with Dan’s CFFC for a Which Way Challenge theme of Any Which Way with Yellow along a Trail, Path, or Road.

Here are my entries …

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge
Crayola Box of 8 – Yellow

Dan’s Fun Foto Challenge (CFFC) – The Crayola Box of 8-Yellow

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Unity Community; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Enjoy your week. May it be filled with love, joy, laughter, and lots of fun. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Macro Monday – 2026 June 08

Xylocopa micans

on Cornus foemina

These Swamp Dogwood Flowers are located on the banks of Lake Haigler by the Hunter E. Martin Kayak Launch on Haigler Loop at Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, South Carolina.

***Cornus foemina***,
aka ***Swamp Dogwood***
or ***Stiff Dogwood***

Click on image to enlarge.

Macro Monday (MM)

Terri’s The Flower Hour-2026.06.08

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250 mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: Haigler Loop; at Hunter E. Martin Kayak Launch; Lake Haigler Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a terrific week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Silent Sunday: 2026 June 07

Baptisia alba

*It is native to central*
*and eastern North America*
*and is typically found in open*
*woodland areas prairies*
*with tall grasslands.*
*However, in this case the plant*
*is grown in the landscape*
*and garden areas of*
*The Schiele Museum of Natural History*
*in Gastonia, North Carolina.*

Silent Sunday-2026.06.07

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: The Gardens; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Pure Blossom Shining Through the Gloom

The snowy petals whisper grace,
And leave a perfume in this place.
These luminous and trusting blooms,
Are shining through the solemn glooms.

A sacred blossom, pure and white,
Unfolds its heart to meet the light.
The elegant and silent trust,
Will bloom in beauty since it must.

This graceful flower shows devotion,
To stir the spirit like an ocean.
It rests beneath the moonlit skies,
Where quiet magic never dies.

Debbie’s Six Word Saturday-2026.06.06

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: The Garden in The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. May your day be filled with love, peace, happiness and an abundance of laughter. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Floral Friday/The #Flower Hour — 2026 June 05

Monarda fistulosa

Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamot) is also referred to as wild bee balm, Appalachian Bergamot, Eastern Bergamot. It is a hardy, perennial wildflower native to North America and is in the mint genus family. It has distinctive lavender-pink blossoms, aromatic foliage which has an exceptional ability to attract pollinators and historically has been used for medicinal purposes.

It serves as a pollinator magnet drawing an enormous amount of bumblebees, native bees, predatory wasps, and butterflies. [The Garden where these are planted also has a section of four beehives with plenty of bees to help pollinate the flowers grown therein.]

For those interested in expanding their palates, you might want to try tasting its edible leaves and flowers. They add a spicy, citrusy, oregano-like kick to salads, jellies, and meat dishes. Also may note that historically the leaves have been used, by indigenous peoples, to brew teas to treat colds, flus, and digestive issues.

Wild bergamot
(Monarda fistulosa)
**Terri’s The #Flower Hour**

Terri’s The Flower Hour #33

Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge-What’s Flowering Where You Are?

Also posting in remembrance of …

Bren’s Floral Friday

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250 mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: The Garden; In The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Admire the Flowers and the beauty found in nature. Have a fantastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

One-Liner Wednesday 2026 June 03

One Liner Wednesday
Badge by Laura
@riddlefromthemiddle.com

*It was June, and the world smelled of roses.*
*The sunshine was like powdered gold*
*over the grassy hillside. ~Maud Hart Lovelace, Betsy-Tacy and Tib, 1941*

Click on image to enlarge.

#1LinerWednesday

Linda’s One Liner Wednesday

God Bless. Love One Another. Have a funtastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2026 LAPC #400: The Rule of Threes featuring Florals

Tina with Travels and Trifles is this week’s host for the Lens Artist Photo Challenge. She has chosen a. Theme of The Rule of Three, not to be confused with The Rule of Thirds. I quite frequently post for Carol’s Thursday Trios so finding groups of three’s isn’t difficult for me. Whenever I am out and about I always look for possible three’s to use later on. For this challenge I am foxing The Rule of Three’s in Floral settings.

*Canna discolor*
*(aka Achira*
*or edible canna) Gastonia, NC*

*Flowering Dogwood*
(Cornus florida)
Native to the
Eastern North America
Official Flower of Tennessee

Oakleaf Hydrangea,
Hydrangea quercifolia
The Farm at
The Schiele Museum
*of Natural History*

*Rhododendron arborescens,*
*or smooth/sweet azalea*

Tina’s Lens-Artist Photo Challenge (LAPC) #400-The Rule of Three

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #33

Carol’s Thursday Trios

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

God Bless. Admire the Flowers and the beauty found in nature. Have a fantastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Floral Friday/The #Flower Hour/Spring Festival — 2026 May 29

A Garden of

Echinacea purpurea

Unlike Terri or Brian, I have not seen any dogwood trees lately. I have, however, recently visited the Garden inside The Farm at The Schiele Museum of Natural History with a lovely variety of plants and flowers. I am focusing on the beautiful Echinacea purpurea, more commonly known as Purple Coneflower or Eastern Purple Coneflower.

Coneflowers are a popular native floral in a number of gardens (both private and commercial) in our part of the Eastern United States. They are a drought-tolerant perennial with daisy-like flowers. (It is a good thing these plants are drought tolerant since we are currently under water restrictions due to insufficient rainfall (even though it has rained here all week).

The coneflowers thrive in full sunlight and well-drained soil. All the plants and flowers in this garden are well cultivated and cared for. They have a long lasting blooming season from Summer throughout Autumn. Even though it is still Spring in our area, we have had summer-like weather and the coneflowers and other plants are thriving.

This year the garden’s Purple Coneflowers are in abundance and are a delightful attraction for pollinators (like butterflies & the bees in residence at the Farm) and provide seeds for birds. Coneflowers classic colour is purple, however, they also come in a variety of shades of pink, yellow, white, and orange.

A Gallery of
Purple Coneflowers
in a Garden

An interesting fact about the coneflowers is that every part of the plant is edible. Now I have not tried eating them as of yet, but the vibrant petals are said to have a mild, sweet , floral flavour. They make a colourful garnish for salads, desserts, or charcuterie boards. The young. tender leaves can be eaten raw in salads or cooked similarly to spinach. While the coneflowers are considered safe and nontoxic for humans and pets, you would want to avoid high doses due to the fact it is possible for them to cause upset stomachs. For further information about its culinary and medicinal uses check out Eat the Planet.

Click on each image to enlarge.

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #32

Dawn’s Spring Festival 2026 – Finale

Carol’s Thursday Trios

XingfuMama’s Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge-2026 Week 21

Also posting in remembrance of …

Bren’s Floral Friday

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250 mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: The Garden; In The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Admire the Flowers and the beauty found in nature. Have a fantastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

The #Flower Hour #32 — 2026 May 26

Tragopogon porrifolius

*Common Salsify*
*Aka Vegetable oyster,*
*Purple Goat’s beard,*
*Jack go to bed*

The Common Salsify (Tragopogon porrifolius), is a biennial root vegetable which can be grown alongside parsnips and carrots. The plant produces grass-like leaves and thin, carrot-shaped taproots that are typically 8-9 inches long. True Salsify features purple flowers that white roots.

Its white taproot yields a delicate savory flavour that is often compared to cooked oysters, asparagus, or artichokes. While we’re talking about flavour, when it’s cooked it has an earthy nutty taste which makes it highly prized by chefs for use in soups, stews, and purées. You may cook them in a variety of ways from boiling, steaming, roasting, or mashing them. Besides cooking them, the young, tender roots can be sliced or grated for salads. The young shoots, leaves, and even the flower buds can also be eaten raw. If you choose to eat them raw, do not overeat them since they may lead to gas or bloating.

Click on image to enlarge.

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #32-2026.05.26

Dawn’s Spring Festival 2026-Week #11

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250 mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: The Garden; in The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Admire the Flowers and the beauty found in nature. Have a fantastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Macro Monday – 2026 May 25

Dipsacus fullonum

The Teasel pictured here are grown in a garden at The Farm at The Schiele Museum of Natural History. The Garden also has purple coneflowers, Oakleaf hydrangeas, Roses, Wild Bergamot, Lettuce, Cabbage, and many more varieties some of which will be featured in later posts.

Click on image to enlarge.

Macro Monday (MM)

Terri’s The Flower Hour-2026.05.25

Dawn’s Spring Festival 2026 – Week 10

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250 mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: The Garden in the Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a terrific week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Floral Friday/The #Flower Hour/Spring Festival — 2026 May 22

Opuntia humifusa

The Eastern Prickly Pear, (Opuntia humifusa), is a cactus of the genus Opuntia. It is present in parts of the Eastern United States, southeastern Canada, and northern Mexico.

*A Trio of*
*Eastern Prickly*
*Pear Flowers*

It is a low-growing, cold hardy cactus that stands as the only widespread native cactus in the eastern United States region. It is widely celebrated for its ability to survive freezing winter temperatures, its vibrant summer blooms, and its completely edible parts.

Normally, it is stated the blooms appear around June-July. We have been having some extremely hot weather lately (feels like summer instead of spring). Guess nobody told the Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus Blooms they weren’t supposed to bloom for another month.

After the cacti produce their flowers, it produces oblong, purplish-red edible fruits often referred to as “pear apples”. Wonder how tasty they’ll be.

Click on each image to enlarge.

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #31

Dawn’s Spring Festival 2026 – Week #10

Carol’s Thursday Trios

Also posting in remembrance of …

Bren’s Floral Friday

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Admire the Flowers and the beauty found in nature. Have a fantastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Tithonia rotundifolia

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Azalea

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Liriope muscari

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Floral ABC’s

Starring P, Q, and R

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Also Posting for Cee’s Flower of the Day

To Be or

Not to Be

Common

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Red and Yellow

To Brighten the Day

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Lingering On

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Floral ABC’s

Starring M, N, and O

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Random Floral

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Oh How They Fade & Wither

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Vintage Americana

Reality or Not?

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Floral ABC’s

Starring J, K, L

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PLeucanthemum vulgare

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Potted Plants & Flowers

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Rudbeckia hirta

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GHI Flowers

For Floral ABc’s

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“Cattleya Orchid”

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Groups of Three (3) or More

in the Gardens of

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

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DEF Flowers

for Floral ABCs

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Carduus nutans

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Happy Fourth of July!

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Lilium lancifolium

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Viola sororia

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Hydrangea quercifolia

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Allium fistulosum

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Fragaria virginiana

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Yellow Spotted

in the Neighbourhood

CFFC – The Crayola Box of 8