The Moonflower blossoms are quite sturdy while they are open and the petals hold up even after a rain.
As they go by the petals curl inward in a variety of patterns.
This one is my recent favorite.
Many of the blooms have smudges on the inside — dirt or who knows what — as they open. We do sometimes see small flies or gnats inside the flowers. And the white shows everything.
August 22, 2026
A Snowy Egret doing what egrets do: stand, stretch, scratch and stare.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
June 21, 2026
I’ve watched this tree slowly tilt for many years. It was upright at our last visit in June, when there wasn’t much going on but I did take one shot of the tree:
Sometime between then and August 9 it tipped over.
Hopefully it will continue to provide a bird soap box for years.
A few posts documenting the tree’s demise:
February 2024:Â Cormorants in the Spoonie Tree
August 2023:Â The Spoonie Tree, August 2023
November 2021:Â The Spoonie Tree, Slowly It Tilts
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
August 9, 2026
The moonflower was closing and the morning glory had opened, about 1/2 hour before sunrise.
August 12, 2026
Moonflowers are a nighttime blooming member of the Morning Glory family. The blooms last just a few hours. These were taken around sunrise as they were closing.
August 8, 2026
This Anole was taking his time, flashing his dewlap to anyone that was looking, and checking out the view from the top of our backyard arbor. The vines are a combo of moonflower and morning glory.
August 8, 2026
Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC
August 5, 2026
A Black-crowned Night-heron is standing on bottom of the pond which is normally covered with about a foot of water. The water had been drained for some repairs to the dike.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
July 4, 2026
This is another series of a Black Skimmer fishing at the Magnolia Plantation boat pond on July 4th.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
July 4, 2026
We stopped by a boggy spot affectionately known as the frog farm where we frequently see tree frogs, dragonflies, anoles…all sorts of little creatures hanging out on the plants.
On Tuesday we saw just the flowers, including this near-perfect Cana Lily.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
July 21, 2026
