The flowers of Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia) are highly prized by many insects. This bank of Pepperbush grows wild next to our old house site -- I'd guess it's at least 100' wide long and 20' wide. Some of it is 10' high. It smells wonderful!
Bumblebee
Insects throng to the sweet flowers in droves. There are four carpenters bees in this picture alone.
Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica)
This little Azure Butterfly was flitting around so quickly I never did think I'd get a picture!
Eastern Sand Wasp
Augochlora Green Metallic Bee
A beautiful bee; wish I'd gotten a better picture.
A beautiful bee; wish I'd gotten a better picture.
Southern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa micans), female
The ominous beauty of a Bald-Faced Hornet
(actually they only scare me if I spot a nest).
(actually they only scare me if I spot a nest).
Pearl Crescent Butterfly
A Dirt Dauber, very beautiful, quick-moving insects that seldom sting.
To see more critters, visit Camera Critters. And thanks to the helpful folks at BugGuide.Net, all of these critters are now named!
beautiful pictures!! I love the butterfly's. You got some great shots there!
ReplyDeleteThat sweet pepper bush is most pretty. I've not seen it before but do like the clethras. The insects do too I see!
ReplyDeleteJust goes to show you even the insect world is beautiful if you take the time to observe it up close. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots. Lovely flying critters!
ReplyDeleteThese are very beautiful images! I love the blue of the dobber's wing
ReplyDeleteLove your pepper bush hedge and your winged photos are jewels... I think one of them is a hornet... it has white on the abdomen... number six and seven... a guess.
ReplyDelete100 foot of clethra! You lucky gardener! That is quite a prize to have naturally occurring! I would love to have this beauty as my hedge instead of the forsythia we have. Sighing with delight at the thought! gail
ReplyDeleteWhat a great site to have. We all need to take a closer look at the critters buzzing around us.
ReplyDeleteVery nice. I like the azure butterfly best!
ReplyDeleteI think with all your wonderful insect attracting plants and your magnificent photographic skills, that maybe you should invest in a good identification book, it's such fun. I love the blue butterfly. In England we have a couple of similar species called the Holly Blue and the Chalk-hill Blue Butterfly that as the name suggests lives on firstly, holly and secondly, chalk hill grass and flower lands.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/holly-blue-butterfly
http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/chalk-hill-blue-butterfly
Yours looks related to the Holly Blue, but I wouldn't be surprised if yours was slightly more exotic, the US versions usually are!
Many regards, Fay
Pretty! I have a pink Clethra that should be blooming any day now...
ReplyDeleteOh to have a hedge of clethra! wow!! What a sweet sweet fragrance. Very nice.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos!
ReplyDeleteThe butterflies are great captures! You really have to be looking for those little guys. I often wonder too about the different polinators in the garden.
ReplyDeletewhat a field of pepperbush with some of butterflies and bees.
ReplyDeleteThe Azure Butterfly is so pretty. How I would love to see one flitting around in our yard. Not sure if your metallic green visitor is a fly or wasp, but I do remember seeing flies that looked similar. Any your beautiful Sweet Pepperbush. They couldn't think of a more appealing name for a fragrant plant?:)
ReplyDeleteAmazingly beautiful!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful captures. Insects are fascinating little beasts - I enjoy them so long as they stay outside!
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures. I have never seen a pepperbush before, it looks lovely.
ReplyDeleteYour little azure butterfly is such a sweet picture. I'm so glad you got it!
I love visiting your garden blog, always so peaceful and pretty :)
Gorgeous photos Sweet Bay. So many insects benefiting from your beautiful garden, that's a great thing.
ReplyDeleteHi Sweet Bay, just imagining that many Clethras en masse is mind bloggling! You are so lucky to have such a rich planting with so many flying visitors too. I don't know insects well either, but do know to beware the hornet. I love your description of him, ominous beauty! :-)
ReplyDeleteFrances
What great pictures! I love the butterfly pictures. We get those daubers around our pond, they are really interesting to watch.
ReplyDeleteI can only imagine the lovely smell over your garden this days. Haven`t been around for a few days so I just like to comment your beautiful daylily,'Prissy Frills', stunning colors !
ReplyDeleteThe world of insects is intriguing - I wish I knew more about them. Stunning pictures!
ReplyDeleteKatarina
Your bugs n blooms were a delight to view this a.m. I love watching the bees in the garden!
ReplyDeleteI thank you for your continued encouragement as I step forward into my latest journey with cancer treatment. love and light aNNa xo
I'd love to have Clethra here but it wants more water than the rains usually supply. Interesting insects. I have the same butterflies here but not the same wasps.
ReplyDeleteMarnie
The clethras around here just seem to vibrate from all of the insect activity. I am glad you appreciate this under-appreciated and under-used native.
ReplyDeleteI love the azure butterfly! They are fast.
ReplyDeleteYou have a whole insect zoo right on that clethera.
Hey--it finally turned hot in NC. I can't believe it took so long.
Beautiful photos, Sweet Bay! The bees are amazing, but I am partial to butterflies--the Pearl Crescent is so delicate-looking; it's one I've never seen around here. And the Blue Azure is delightful. Thanks for dropping by and visiting; I've seen your comments on several of the regulars I read--so glad to finally meet you!
ReplyDeleteHi Sweetbay
ReplyDeleteI always find myself clicking your interesting pics.
I've never heard of Sweet Pepperbush.
Rob
Thank you for your comments everyone. Faye I do need more/ better books. I have the Audubon Society Field Guide but should probably get the Peterson guides too. I love the Peterson guides for birds.
ReplyDeleteWhat a variety of visitors! I love your early morning photos, it is one of my favorite times to visit the garden and take pics, nice and quiet and the lovely dew.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures! Lovely butterlies!Thanks for your visit!//Eva
ReplyDelete