Carpenter bee on rocket #larkspur in my #Atlanta front yard. Alt-text has the rest. 💜 #garden #gardening #pollinators #naturephotography

#larkspur #bloomscrolling #flowerpics

On the #Larkspur ferry and a fellow-passenger just pointed out a whale spout.
It's crazy that after going on a few "whale watching" boat rides over the years, in which I never saw a single whale, I finally saw one from a ferry on the Bay.

Two plants showing off outside: finally after four times sowing, I have Monarda citriodora in bloom! A North American native and usually an annual in all but the warmer climates, it has a powerful odor when disturbed or when smelling the blooms that some claim to resemble lemon…but I think is a lot more slightly sweet herbal than that. Fully edible as well, both leaves and flowers, and commonly used to flavor meats or toss in savory salads for a little kick.
The other…not edible, at all, and probably toxic instead. Delphinium likiangense is often described as a dwarf, but as this Chinese native is making flower stalks 18 inches tall I wouldn’t call it small. The blooms I got indoors this past fall were very purple, but they’re showing their true deep blue color now…and attracting the right insects finally because seeds are developing! I may offer seeds or young plants in the future; it’s cold-hardy to zone 7, but has to be protected in colder areas like mine.

#monarda #monardacitriodora #delphinium #delphiniumlikiangense #beebalm #larkspur #flowers #seedgrown #plants #nature #educational #botany #horticulture #gardening #carltoncarnivores