Not On MY Turf!

Crab Spider on Purple Coneflower

or

Misumena vatia on Echinacea purpurea

Would you like to know some facts? 

1.  The Crab Spider can change its color to camouflage with its surroundings.  It may take a few days, but it can be white, yellow or green.  They eat insects and are poisonous - but not harmful to humans.  :-)  

The Crab Spider sits on flowers, waiting for its prey.  When it lands close enough, the spider grabs its prey with its claw like front legs.  The male is smaller than the female.  This information, and more, is available at this site:  Crab Spider.

2.  Purple Coneflower is a native wildflower found in the midwest and southeastern United States.  It self seeds and is easily propagated.  It thrives in full sun to partially shaded conditions.  More information is available at this site.  Purple Coneflower.

Green Thumb Sunday

I haven't participated in this for awhile (officially).
This is Green Thumb Sunday and you should join in the fun!

Now, this isn't actually blooming, yet.
But the leaves are pretty.Kopper King Hardy Hibiscus

This will be a purple coneflower.
However, in the shade, it's a pale shade of pink.

"Stella Supreme"
My tag says "Purple d'Oro,"
but I'm fairly certain that's wrong!
This plant is much too tall and the flower too large.
( I do have Purple d-Oro in the back... I'll see if it's blooming tomorrow.)
"Yellow Mammoth" Spider lily
This has large flowers and very tall flower scapes!
"Custard Candy"
Another misplaced tag... unknown daylily.
A very prolific rebloomer!
Whoever named this Lilium "Pink" understated its beauty!
This is a yellow trumpet lily
And an upward facing white trumpet lilyI'm hoping to find their tags tomorrow.

Looking Back for a Moment...

Looking back at this past August...
Honeybees in Sedum

Lilyturf
(actually, I planted two varieties together... this sign says Liriope Spicatica,
but I'm not sure this is correct. One variety has pink flowers; the other has purple.)

Finally... painting the shed!

But check out the "neighborhood!" (poison ivy) :-)

A view of the raised beds.
Sorry about the compost pile on the right and the
chicken wire fence on the left...
The first will eventually be somewhat concealed,
and the second will at some point be replaced (I hope!).

And a close-up of the Purple Coneflower.