This hefty red Camellia was at a nice height for me to spot a bee on a pollen gathering mission.
The sun created some interesting shadows…
…while the bee checked every side of the tightly bunched filaments.
The bee climbed his way out of the flower before taking off.
Another bee quickly took the prime spot in this bloom.
February 2, 2024
I was first struck by the white speckles and the size of this Camellia bloom.
I passed by again a few days later and the color had faded, a few age spots appeared, but it was still beautiful.
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
And not a rainbow in sight!
February 2, 2024
And he didn’t like it.
As a trio of ants worked their way around the Camellia’s center the bee fidgeted away from them, finally taking off for quieter pastures.
I don’t know what the ants were up to, they just seemed to be marching around.
February 2, 2024
February 2, 2024
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
January 25, 2024
I spotted this sun drenched Camellia bloom way down the trail I was walking.
As I was photographing it I realized I was being watched:
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
March 30, 2023
… or perhaps a near relative… this bloom is not nearly as dense as some I have seen that are labeled “Pink Perfection”.
Small bits of color attracted me on an October walk around Magnolia Plantation and Gardens with my 180mm Macro lens.
Viewing a Magnolia seed pod at eye level reveals texture, color, and some intrigue as the red seeds were beginning to appear.
Early Camellias had bloomed, this one with a robust center.
Yet another single swamp sunflower bloom that I couldn’t resist.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
October 12, 2021
