Images

A pretty kick butt bee plant. Lots of action at about eye height. Who can ask for more....it even blooms for long periods of time. Even better for the bee watcher. Likes wet feet, but I have a nice one growing right in my sand and gravel soiled backyard that I planted. I think this plant is underutilized in bee meadow plantings.

Culvers Root, Veronicastrum virginicum. Whenever this is in bloom it has bees on it. Specimen and Picture by Helen Lowe Metzman.

Culvers Root, Veronicastrum virginicum. Whenever this is in bloom it has bees on it. Specimen and Picture by Helen Lowe Metzman.

Verrucosa arenata, Experimental Shot, Spider in a cuvette filled with hand sanitizer, note reflection within bubble. Identification made by Lady Arachnophile

Vespa crabro - The European Hornet...this one is actually in Europe, Denmark to be exact, where the nature artist, Anne Post's mother found this one dead in her garden. While somewhat beat up, it retains its essence as a well put together as a predator. Photograph by Ashleigh Jacobs or Hannah Sutton.

Vespa crabro - The European Hornet...this one is actually in Europe, Denmark to be exact, where the nature artist, Anne Post's mother found this one dead in her garden. While somewhat beat up, it retains its essence as a well put together as a predator. Photograph by Ashleigh Jacobs or Hannah Sutton.

Vespa crabro - The European Hornet...this one is actually in Europe, Denmark to be exact, where the nature artist, Anne Post's mother found this one dead in her garden. While somewhat beat up, it retains its essence as a well put together as a predator. Photograph by Ashleigh Jacobs or Hannah Sutton.

Unknown Vespidae, Yellowstone National Park, Photoshopping done by Ann Simpkins

This is the last and final shot of the lovely vespid from Park County, Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. A wonderful pallet of colors. Photoshoping by Dejen Mengis. Photography Information: Canon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, Stackshot Sled, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash in Styrofoam Cooler, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200.

Yellowstone National Park has wasps. Here is one I'm not sure what species it is, but it struck me as particularly eye-catching and so we took a picture of it. If anyone wants to put a determination on it that would be super wonderful.

Unknown Vespidae, Yellowstone National Park,

Vespa crabro - The European Hornet...this one is actually in Europe, Denmark to be exact, where the nature artist, Anne Post's mother found this one dead in her garden. While somewhat beat up, it retains its essence as a well put together as a predator. Photograph by Ashleigh Jacobs or Hannah Sutton.

Part of the spring flush of woodland blooming shrubs. Bees do visit this group, but in my neck of the woods in the Mid-Atlantic there is not much to see despite the massive bloom in terms of visitors. Some much energy to make all that bloom...the plants can be covered...but so few pollinators...what's up with that? Specimen and pictures by Helen Low Metzman.

Black Haw - A lovely name for a plant or and estate. A native medicinal plant, here with its buds coming out in the spring. Plant collected in Howard County, Maryland by Helen Lowe Metzman and she did the photography as well.

Part of the spring flush of woodland blooming shrubs. Bees do visit this group, but in my neck of the woods in the Mid-Atlantic there is not much to see despite the massive bloom in terms of visitors. Some much energy to make all that bloom...the plants can be covered...but so few pollinators...what's up with that? Specimen and pictures by Helen Low Metzman.

Part of the spring flush of woodland blooming shrubs. Bees do visit this group, but in my neck of the woods in the Mid-Atlantic there is not much to see despite the massive bloom in terms of visitors. Some much energy to make all that bloom...the plants can be covered...but so few pollinators...what's up with that? Specimen and pictures by Helen Low Metzman.

Seed head of a woodland violet. Tiny, fluffy, and mysteriously hairy. Found in the swampy woods behind my house today, Upper Marlboro, Maryland...

Seed head of a woodland violet. Tiny, fluffy, and mysteriously hairy. Found in the swampy woods behind my house today, Upper Marlboro, Maryland...

Here is the Common Blue Violet. State Agriculture Bulletins talk about "Controlling" this tough beauty. Native, rugged individualist, creator of ground cover with its own distinct specialist bee (Andrena viola) in its own genus. What's not to like here? Oh, that's right the, I forgot about the existence of lawn privilege ...

Here is the Common Blue Violet. State Agriculture Bulletins talk about "Controlling" this tough beauty. Native, rugged individualist, creator of ground cover with its own distinct specialist bee (Andrena viola) in its own genus. What's not to like here? Oh, that's right the, I forgot about the existence of lawn privilege ...

Vitis...grapes, one of the wild species in Maryland. Species unknown at this time. Note that bees have little interest in grapes, most, if not all, grapes are self-fertilized so one rarely sees bee visitors here. Picture and specimen by Helen Lowe Metzman in Howard County, Maryland.