This was one of those times I wished for something to stand on as I lined up the background vegetation that appeared like a green shower behind this sunflower head.
I was hoping to see a bird or two investigating these plants. It was too hot (90 F = 32 C) to stay out there and wait.
A few of the sunflowers in this field hadn’t reached the drooping stage of maturity.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
July 16, 2025
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
July 21, 2024
I first noticed this Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird when she flew through my shot of these ornamental sunflowers. I was surprised that there was nectar in a flower head like this to attract a hummingbird.
This is a view of the back side of a nearby sunflower in the same garden. This variety has multiple seed heads on the same stem.
There were an amazing variety of insects hopping and flying around the flowers in the Mepkin Abbey Labyrinth.
The sunflowers made a beautiful yellow glow behind the blooms where the insects opted to land. This Buckeye’s colors were a nice match.
There were grasshopper type insects of several varieties and sizes. This fellow was at least four inches (ten centimeters) from head to tail and could easily leap into the next aisle of the labyrinth in a flash.
Several smaller butterflies, perhaps this is some type of skipper, were around inspecting the flowers.
There were some larger butterflies, I believe this is a Monarch. I was quite surprised that with all these insects I didn’t see any birds within the labyrinth looking for their own lunches.
The bees were very busy in the sunflower fields.
These flowers need little dressing up, but a bee adds a nice visual touch.
Sunflower faces are supposed to follow the sun but on occasion one doesn’t get the message.
One bloom stands above the rest in a field of sunny flower faces.
This moth looks a little worse for the wear but found a great spot to gather some sustenance. The bee was working his way around the sunflower’s perimeter.
Then zip, the bee made a bee line to the next flower with some of that hard gained pollen dropping behind him. The moth didn’t miss a beat and continued his methodical probing.
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