Sunflowers

The sunflowers took a beating from the first real storms of summer this afternoon. Some of the plants are reaching 10-12-feet tall. If the rough weather persists they won't survive. Still, we've had weeks of enjoyment out of this first crop. I have a secret to keep them growing in the brutal heat and dry but I'm only telling those who ask.

The storms brought us only a tenth of an inch of rain today but lots of high winds leaving quite the mess behind.

ABOVE: This sunflower is about 10-feet tall and very proud.



ABOVE: If you look closely there is a glass spider ("Green Lynx Spider," Peucetia viridans) on the top petals of this flower. If you don't like spiders you wouldn't like Florida this year. They are everywhere. I most hate those that crawl on me while I'm sleeping. . . .and yes. . . I receive plenty of bites daily. I'm not afraid of spiders. . . I'd just prefer they stayed off of me.



ABOVE: A funky shot with some camera trickery and a bee.



ABOVE: A mutant Evening Sun. These seeds will be priceless. She is sporting about 50 heads today. Most of the evening sun variety have only one big head. The heads are mostly facing straight up instead of east.



ABOVE and BELOW: More fun with the camera and close ups.



BELOW: The stink bugs (Pentatomidae) colonize the dying sunflower heads. This very large head hosts at least 100 stink bugs.