#FloweroftheDay – Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography

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 …

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.

*Coleman*
*Piedmont Medical Center Trail*
*Rock Hill, SC*

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.

The Macro #Flower Hour #31 — 2026 May 19

Hymenocallis coronaria

*Aka Cahaba lily*
*or Shoals spider-lily*

The Spider-Lilies are in full bloom in the Catawba River at Landsford Canal State Park. They are such a beautiful sight to see and admire. This is the best time to come on down to Landsford Canal State Park and enjoy the Shoals Spider-Lilies. You’ll be amazed at their beauty regardless of whether you walk along to shore to the viewing point or kayak down the Catawba River to get an up close view.

*The Shoals Spider-lilies*
*as seen from a Kayak*

Click on each image to enlarge.

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #31-2026.05.19

Dawn’s Spring Festival 2026-Week 9

Carol’s Thursday Trios (on Tuesday, oops)

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Location: Catawba River; Landsford Canal State Park; Catawba, South 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.

Spring’s Lovely Pink Roses

The Rose bush keeps popping up with new blooms to delight the senses. I love roses and the new blooms are just in time for my upcoming bday.

Click on each image to enlarge.

Terri’s Sunday Stills Monthly Colour Challenge-Pink and Pastels

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #30

Dawn’s Spring Festival 2026 #9

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. Have a funtastic weekend. Enjoy the Spring Florals. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

The #Flower Hour #30 — 2026 May 12

Coreopsis lanceolata

Click on each image to enlarge.

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #30-2026.05.12

Dawn’s Spring Festival 2026-Week 8

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max

Location: Gardens of the Waxhaw; Andrew Jackson State Park; Lancaster, South 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 11

Bigleaf Hydrangea

Click on image to enlarge.

Macro Monday (MM)

Terri’s The Flower Hour-2026.05.11

Dawn’s Spring Festival 2026 – Week 8

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: 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 08

Happy Mother’s Day!

*Roses to brighten your*
*Mother’s Day Weekend*

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #29

Dawn’s Spring Festival 2026 – Week #8

Also posting in remembrance of …

Bren’s Floral Friday

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max

Location: Lake Wylie, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mothers, and men don’t forget to honor the women in your life. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

The #Flower Hour #29— 2026 May 05

“¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo!”

Spiraea japonica ‘Walbuma‘

Aka Magic Carpet Spirea, it is a compact deciduous shrub grown in a landscape near the tennis courts at T. Jeffers Center.

It is cherished for its vibrant yellow-gold foliage, intense pink summer (even though it is only spring here) flowers and red fall colour.

Click on each image to enlarge.

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #29-2026.05.05

Dawn’s Spring Festival 2026-Week 7

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Near Tennis Courts; T. Jeffers Center and Park; 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 04

Packera aurea

Aka Butterweed, Golden Groundsel
Golden Ragwort

Macro Monday (MM)

Terri’s The Flower Hour-2026.05.04

Dawn’s Spring Festival 2026 – Week 7

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: T. Jeffers Center and Park; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Enjoy the Spring-like weather. Ours is bouncing back and forth from the low 60°’s to the low 80°’s. 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 01

Happy May Day!

Click on each image to enlarge.

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #28

Dawn’s Spring Festival 2026-Week 7

Carol’s Thursday Trios-2026 May 01

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. Have a funtastic weekend. Enjoy the Spring Florals. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

The #Flower Hour #28— 2026 April 28

Hymenocallis coronaria

These images are from last year. This year’s Rocky Shoals Spider Lilies are not in full bloom yet. The Rocky Shoals Spider Lilies bloom each year along the Catawba River and can be viewed from Landsford Canal State Park. The best time of year to view the Rocky Shoals Spider Lilies is from May through mid-June. To view them from land, you may choose to hike the 1.5 mile, round-trip down either the Nature Trail or the Canal Trail to the overlook. There is another option to view the Rocky Shoals Spider Lilies, that option would be to kayak the Catawba River and wind your way through the Rocky Shoals Spider Lilies where you’ll have an upclose view.

*Aka Cahaba lily, Shoal lily,*
*or Shoals Spider-lily*

The latest report on the Lily Watch is that the green leaves are reaching full growth and the Rocky Shoals in the river are looking lush. There are a view early bloomers out in the Catawba River with more flowers coming into full bloom soon. This year the rainfall has been insufficient, however, the plants still are looking healthy and are expected to reach peak bloom around the middle or end of May.

Click on each image to enlarge.

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #26-2026.04.28

Macro Monday (MM)

Dawn’s Spring Festival 2026-Week 6

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Location: Landsford Canal State Park; Catawba, South 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.

Floral Friday/The #Flower Hour/Spring Festival — 2026 April 24

Bee Calendula officinalis

*Calendula officinalis,*
*Aka Pot Marigold*
*Is a Feast for a Common*
*Eastern Bumblebee*

Click on each image to enlarge.

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #27

Dawn’s Spring Festival 2026-Week 6

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

God Bless. Have a funtastic weekend. Enjoy the Spring Florals. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

The #Flower Hour #27— 2026 April 21

Shades of Pink

Last week I shared a pink rose peeking out of garden bush. Ordinarily I don’t share from the same plant two weeks in a row, but I am fascinated with the variety of colours and shades on this rose bush.

As the week has progressed more and more buds have been blossoming. What’s surprising to me is the vast variety of shades on the same plant. The blooms vary from whitish with pinkish centre’s to varying shades of pink and even what appears to be reddish or dark pink buds. I do not recall seeing such a variegated colour scheme on one plant before. For comparison you may check out last week’s roses by clicking here.

Here are this week’s blossoming highlights …

Click on each image to enlarge.

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #26-2026.04.21

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Unity Community; 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.

Floral Friday/The #Flower Hour/Spring Festival — 2026 April 17

Symplocarpus foetidus

The Symplocarpus foetidus, aka Eastern skunk cabbage, is growing in a small garden of our rental home. When I first saw the plants in the small garden I wasn’t sure what type of plant they were.

The Eastern Skunk Cabbage is a native North American wildflower. It is known for being among the first plants to emerge in late winter.

It is a low-growing plant that grows in wetlands (Why here, I’m not sure. We definitely don’t live in a wetland area. We did have snow and ice storms this winter though.) and moist hill slopes (the area it’s planted in is more or less flat) of eastern North America.

We moved here evidently after the plants had already bloomed. When in blooming season, the plant produces a foul-smelling, maroon-and-green mottled spathe (hood) that covers its flowers, attracting pollinators like flies and beetles with its heat and odour. Its foul-smelling odour is the main reason it is called “Skunk Cabbage.”

Once the Eastern Skunk Cabbage flowers, then large, cabbage-like leaves unfurl, and the plant is toxic if ingested raw, causing burning and swelling.

Click on each image to enlarge.

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #26

Dawn’s Spring Festival 2026-Week 5

Also posting in remembrance of …

Bren’s Floral Friday

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Backyard Garden; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a funtastic weekend. Enjoy the Spring Florals. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

The #Flower Hour #26 — 2026 April 14

***Peeking* 👀 *through the Bush***

Click on each image to enlarge.

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #26-2026.04.14

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Unity Community; 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 — 13 April 2026

Virginia Creeper

Click on image to enlarge.

Macro Monday (MM)

Monday Monochrome

Monochrome Monday

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

Location: Lake Crawford Trail; Kings Mountain State Park; Blacksburg, South 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/Spring Festival — 2026 April 10

This is an excellent week for combining The Flower Hour, Spring Festival 2026 Week 4, while remembering Bren’s Floral Friday and Cee’s Flower of the Day challenges. As stated in my CWWC/CFFC post Coleman and I hiked the Lake Crawford Trail at Kings Mountain State Park. The trail was displaying an impressive array showing colourful signs of Spring.

Here are a few pics of Spring signs we saw on our Hike …

***Terri’s The Flower Hour***
***Dawn’s Spring Festival 2026 Week 4***
**Bren’s Floral Friday**
**Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)**

Click on each image to enlarge.

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #25

Dawn’s Spring Festival 2026-Week 4

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: Lake Crawford Trail; Kings Mountain State Park; Blacksburg, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a funtastic weekend. Enjoy the Spring Florals. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

The Macro #Flower Hour #25 — 2026 April 07

Rhododendron japonicum

Aka Japanese azalea

Click on each image to enlarge.

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #25-2026.04.07

Macro Monday (MM)

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: N. Myrtle School Road; 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.

RDP Sunday 2026 April 5

Daffodil

Click on image to enlarge.

Ragtag Daily Prompt (RDP) Sunday-Daffodil

Terri’s The Flower Hour #24

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

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

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

One Word Sunday (#OWS) —2026.04.05

Bits & Splashes

of Yellow

Here & There

A Bit of Yellow amongst the grass …

A Splash of Yellow over there …

*Coleman’s*
*Little Tikes Yellow*
*Construction Trucks*

And a Ray of Sunny Yellow Flowers

Click on each image to enlarge.

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

God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy Nature. Capture the beauty all around you. Have a wonderful 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 April 03

Cornus florida

On our walk this afternoon Coleman and I saw several flowering trees on our way to the T Jeffers Center. One stood out on the corner across from T. Jeffers Park.

Click on each image to enlarge.

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #24

Dawn’s Spring Festival 2026-Week 3

Becca’s Sunday Trees – 631

Also posting in remembrance of …

Bren’s Floral Friday

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Near T. Jeffers Center; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Stop and admire Nature’s Beauty. Take a walk Enjoy the Outdoors. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

The #Flower Hour #24 — 2026 March 31

Osteospermum ‘Passion Mix’

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #24-2026.03.31

Cee’s The 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.

Which Way Challenge (CWWC) 2026 — Any Which Way with Spring or Autumn Which Ways (Will Run for Two (2) Weeks [03.27-04.03.2026])

Welcome back to another Which Way Challenge (CWWC). This week I have chosen for the theme – Any Which Way with Spring or Autumn Which Ways (Will Run for Two (2) Weeks [03.27-04.03.2026]) for this week’s theme. The Which Way can be any Dirt trail, road, pathway, sidewalk 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 …

I’m starting off with a Springtime hike at Crowders Mountain State Park in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. We entered Crowders Mountain State Park from the Boulders Access Point. After parking and gathering our backpacks with our water and snacks we checkered out the trail map.

We decided to hike the Ridgeline Trail. The Ridgeline Trail connects three parks, namely Crowders Mountain State Park, Kings Mountain State Park, and Kings Mountain National Military Park. The total length of the trail if you hike to all three is 15.1 miles with an elevation gain of 2,411 feet. The Crowders Mountain State Park section of the Ridgeline Trail is 6.2 miles long.

Coleman and I only hiked the Crowders Mountain State Park section of the Ridgeline Trail and then hiked back to the Boulders Access Point parking area.

Ridgeline Trail
Boulders Access Point
Crowders Mountain State Park
Kings Mountain, North Carolina

Now that we’ve seen one of our Springtime hikes, let’s take a look at a variety of Spring Florals seen while hiking on various hiking trails.

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.

Vanda from two-sisters.blog’s Lanes and Pathways at Home and Away

Suzette’s Paved – For Deb’s Any Which Way – CWWC 2026

Brian’s An adventure (along a path)

Dawn’s Which Way with the Willows

Marina’s Lines

Deb’s Which Way Challenge (CWWC)

Also posting for:

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #23

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Bren’s Floral Friday

Deb’s Which Way Challenge (CWWC)

God Bless. Enjoy a stroll in the vast outdoors. Have a funtastic weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Note: The theme for the next will be a continuation of CWWC: Any Which Way with Spring or Autumn Which Ways ( Will Run for Two (2) Weeks [03.27-04.03.2026]

The Macro #Flower Hour #23 — 2026 March 24

Malva subovata

Click on image to enlarge.

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #22-2026.03.28

Macro Monday (MM)

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.

One Word Sunday (#OWS) —2026.03.22

Hellebores

Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Green

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

God Bless. Have a wonderful 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 March 20

Phedimus kamtschaticus

Click on images to enlarge.

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #22

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

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 #22— 2026 March 18

Red and Yellow Zinnias

*Zinnias*
*at The Farm*
*The Schiele Museum*
*of Natural History*
*Gastonia, North Carolina*

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #22-2026.03.28

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

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. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Macro Monday — 16 March 2026

Megachile xylocopoides

feasting on a

Echinacea anguvstifolia

*A Megachile xylocopoides,*
*aka leafcutter bee*
*delights on the nectar*
*of the Echinacea angustifolia,*
*Aka narrow-leaved purple coneflower*.

Click on image to enlarge.

Macro Monday (MM)

Terri’s The Flower Hour

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

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

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

2026 OWS: March 8th — In the Pink

Click on image to enlarge.

Debbie’s One Word Sunday 2026.03.08-Pink

Terri’s The Flower Hour #20

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Cramerton Drugstore Landscape; Cramerton, North Carolina. USA

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

The Flower #Hour #20— 2026 March 03

In a Vase on Monday —-

Yellow Anastasia Spider Mums

In a Vase on Monday (a day late in posting)

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #20-2026.03.03

Macro Monday (MM)

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Inside Chick-Fil-A; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Stop and smell the Flowers. Bring a Ray of Sunshine’s Beauty inside. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Floral Friday/The #Flower Hour

Trumpet pitcher Sarracenia

Lost Hollow is a section in Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden specifically designed for children. It is also known as The Kimbrell Children’s Garden.

The garden incorporates nature-inspired play spaces that encourage exploration and interaction with the surrounding environment. The Lost Hollow features an amphitheater, sunken pond, Moonkeep, play spaces and more for the imagination. This garden has been expanded since we last visited. It now includes a 0.4 mile Adventure Trail and Prairie Castle Playground for children to explore and enjoy.

Sarracenia (Trumpet pitchers) are carnivorous North American plants with hollow, trumpet-shaped leaves that trap and digest insects. They lure prey with nectar and bright colours by using slippery, downward-pointing hairs and digestive fluids to capture and absorb nutrients which helps to supplement their diet in low- nitrogen environments.

The Yellow Trumpets (Sarracenia flava) have tall yellow-green pitchers with red veins which can reach up to thirty (30) inches. Their colouring often changes from yellow-green to a bright yellow in the Springtime. These particular Yellow Trumpets grow near the pond in Lost Hollow.

Click on images to enlarge.

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #19

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: Lost Hollow; Kimbrell Children’s Garden; Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

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.

Monochrome Madness #54: 2026.02.26 — Sauntering here and there within close proximity to home

Sauntering within 10km or approximately 6.214 miles from home found us heading towards the underpass and around the downtown area of Cramerton.

Starting out what we first observe is the Norfolk Southern chugging down the track …

Let’s see how observant we can be as we begin our crazy adventure …

*Coleman’s off sauntering*
*towards the underpass*

In these crazy mixed up times; this church building has been closed since Covid-19.

Next we observe and admire the Veterans Memorial in Centennial Center …

*Who’s the added*
*addition to the Statue?*

And finally, stop and be observant of beautiful flowers … oh how the blossoms and brighten our crazy days.

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness #54

Ragtag Daily Prompt: Monday-Saunter

Ragtag Daily Prompt: Tuesday!-Observant!

Ragtag Daily Prompt: Wednesday-Crazy

Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Within 10km (6.214miles) from home; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God bless. Be Observant of Nature’s Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

The Flower #Hour #19— 2026 February 24

Narcissus pseudonarcissus

For the Lenten Season which began on February 18th, I decided what better selection than the Narcissus pseudonarcissus to post. The Narcissus pseudonarcissus, is commonly referred to as the wild daffodil or Lent Lily.

I captured this Lent Lily with my iPhone in February of 2024 (during the Lenten season) at The Schiele Museum of Natural History. It was growing in The Farm area near one of the historic cabins.

Terri’s The Flower Hour #19-2026.02.24

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

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

God Bless. Take time to observe the Flowers and nature’s beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Floral Friday/The #Flower Hour

Japanese Camellia

Click on image to enlarge.

Terri’s The #Flower Hour

Also posting in remembrance of …

Bren’s Floral Friday

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300mm lens

Location: Glencairn Garden; Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA

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 — 16 February 2026

Echinacea KISMET® ‘Yellow’

Click on image to enlarge.

Macro Monday (MM)

Terri’s The Flower Hour

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Ultra Wide

Location: Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. 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 #17 —2026 February 13

Pink Cherry Blossoms

Click on image to enlarge.

Terri’s The Flower Hour #17 — 2026.02.13

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.

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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

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Xylocopa micans

on Cornus foemina

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Baptisia alba

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Monarda fistulosa

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A Garden of

Echinacea purpurea

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Tragopogon porrifolius

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Dipsacus fullonum

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Opuntia humifusa

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Hymenocallis coronaria

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Coreopsis lanceolata

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Bigleaf Hydrangea

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Happy Mother’s Day!

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“¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo!”

Spiraea japonica ‘Walbuma‘

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Packera aurea

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Happy May Day!

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Hymenocallis coronaria

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Bee Calendula officinalis

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Symplocarpus foetidus

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Peeking 👀 through the Bush

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Virginia Creeper

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Rhododendron japonicum

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Bits & Splashes

of Yellow

Here & There

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Cornus florida

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Osteospermum ‘Passion Mix’

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Malva subovata

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Hellebores

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Phedimus kamtschaticus

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Red and Yellow Zinnias

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Megachile xylocopoides

feasting on a

***Peeking* 👀 *through the Bush***