summer solstice -- raindrops

summer solstice -- raindrops

spangle petals, seed heads,

a sagging spider web

Summer solstice came a day early this year, on the 20th of June instead of the 21st. But the longest day of the year made its presence felt as temperatures hit 90 F (32 C) with 52 % humidity. Then, after the shortest night of the year, we were blessed with a tiny bit of rain this morning, enough to bedeck with glistening drops an electric red rose blossom, the fuzzy golden seed head of a tree peony, the fireworks display of an allium seed head, and a drooping spider web.

fuzzy gray ovaries

fuzzy gray ovaries

topped with curly red stigmas --

petals fallen away

Only one red tree peony blossom is still intact after several days of hard rain and frost at night. The magenta petals of all the other flowers lie scattered on the ground. Having done their duty of attracting pollinators, the voluptuous petals have fallen away, leaving the fertilized ovaries naked to the elements. The sticky red stigmas on top have also finished their job of catching pollen and they will slowly dry up and turn black. But right now, each seed heads looks like a cluster of downy baby penguins with red heads curved down on their fuzzy gray breasts.

head down in the golden

head down in the golden

anthers a honey bee collects

nectar and pollen

Mid-April and we've had frost the last few days. I left the fruit trees to their fate but did cover my potted house plants put out during the hot spell in March. The tree peonies are already in full bloom. In just two weeks they emerged from tiny, tight, purple-green buds into huge, flounced blossoms enclosing a golden tassel. This morning the fuchsia blossoms and the serrated green leaves hung limp, but by midday the flowers have lifted their faces to the sun. 
          Honey bees, attracted by the bright pink petals, are diving headlong through the fringe of golden anthers at the center of each flower to reach the nectary with its sugary solution. In the process, the pollen gets stuck to the bee's hind legs. As the bee crawls around it deposits pollen grains on the sticky pink stigmas, either on this blossom or another one, thus fertilizing the ovules at the base of the the stigma. 
          One bee keeps diving into the folds of the petals, fruitlessly seeking the path to the source of sustenance. She finally finds her way to the mother lode, already being mined by a fellow forager. 
          By late afternoon the magenta petals have closed over the golden heart of each blossom. One lone bee keeps searching for entrance, but the flower seems to be saying, "Closed for the day, come back tomorrow when the sun is overhead."