Imogen's photos with the keyword: flower

At first glance this Honey Bee seems to have another set of eyes just behind the eyes on the head. Which is why I use the term shapeshifter (def: a living creature that can change it's physical form or appearance quickly). However the shiny segment that looks like an eye is probably the tibia of it's antennae cleaning leg. I cannot be certain even after careful examination close up......

Honey Bee on Cranesbill Rozanne - At the start of the day for the bee it's leg sacs are empty of pollen as seen here. The Bee will work methodically and patiently through the flowers to collect as much pollen and nectar to carry home to the hive. Going into 2019 we can all use these qualities of perseverance and patience in our daily endeavours.

Wishing everyone a peaceful and happy Christmas and holiday season. Picture taken in Erfurt, Germany on our recent trip. It was summer when this was taken but I thought it suited the Christmas spirit.

Pineapple Lily or Eucomis hybrid, native of South Africa. This variety has wonderful purple sword-like foliage for 11 months of the year. It flowers in Spring for two months and then dies down for a month of rest before new foliage appears until the next year. A trouble free bulb grown in a pot as here or out in the garden.

Honeybee, clambering around in search of nectar in gaura flower.

A honeybee, apis mellifera, enjoying the profusion of flowers in Summer.

Australian native bee, Amegilla or Blue Banded Bee coming in to land on Salvia inflorescence. This bright blue flower is the most attractive to native bees. For some reason this salvia has grown twice as high this summer standing over two metres tall - the bees love it as it is in their direct line of flight.

This honey bee was as impressed with the pink asters as I was. I watched it travel from flower to flower for a long time, it seemed intent on visiting as many flowers as possible. Such tireless work bees do!

Two bees in Gallica Rose. Strolling through the garden at dusk I saw these two bees who were motionless and appeared to be resting or sleeping. Bees usually return to the hive each afternoon after their daily work is done. It is lovely to imagine these two bees spent the night in this glorious perfumed rose.

The season of Spring is forever associated in my mind with Tulips. No other flower evokes the feeling of renewal and new possibilities in life as Tulips do. This picture is dedicated to the memory of Cassi.

Australian native bee, Amegilla Cingulata (Blue Banded Bee) on Salvia flower. This native bee of Australia does not live in a communal hive like the honey bee. Each female makes her own single nest in a burrow in the ground or sometimes in a wall cavity or such like, where she lays her eggs. However, groups of these bees often make their nests in close proximity to each other in a pseudo community. Individual Amegilla live just one season each before dying off in winter. In Spring the eggs hatch and the life cycle carries on once more. Salvia as a group of plants provide a long season of nourishment for native and other bees in Australia and other similar climates.

Delphinium Elatum seed pod development. All the world is a hustle bustle, and all the while Nature quietly procreates to ensure survival. This Delphinium is in a hurry, producing seed pods while the florets are still in full bloom. The summer has been dry in Australia this year, with little rain in six months. Some plants seem to sense this in advance and grow and seed quickly in an attempt to give their offspring a head start.