Photos of plants.
Euonymus, or Spindle Tree. Those glossy, yellow-edged leaves offer year-round interest, and the pink fruit capsules will eventually split to show bright orange seeds inside.
That's an old female carpenter bee on a clump of sedum. See the bald spot on her thorax? That comes from rubbing against the wood of her nest all season. Her wings are tattered, too. She's put in a lot of work.
This is a Southern Magnolia seed cone, or aggregate fruit. Notice the velvety pink texture and the curled tips on each segment. In a few weeks, each of the pods will split open to reveal bright red seeds.
This is a young leaf from a Japanese Hop vine, lit from behind by the late afternoon sun. That light makes it glow and shows every vein.
Here’s a close look at some new growth. The leaf has that fine, fuzzy texture you see on young foliage.
This is the flowering part of the southern magnolia. I hate the tree because it's so sloppy, with its leathery leaves, but I find the flowers interesting. When it matures, the yellow fuzz turns brown, and bright red seeds emerge.
This is what happens when you try to cut a crepe myrtle. It's like a hydra … cut off one branch, and dozens of new branches will take its place.
'Sun King' Aralia. The flowers this plant produces are not half as interesting as the vivid green color of the leaves. I planted this in my garden a couple of years ago. It dies off in the autumn, but luckily, it keeps coming back in the spring.
That's a Japanese Spirea, 'Goldflame' cultivar. Those small white flower clusters are just starting their show.
A mullein rosette catching the morning dew. I found this one in Harrybrooke Park, in Brookfield, Connecticut.
Here’s a look at a magnolia cone after the petals drop. Notice the unique purple, textured receptacle and the dried, curled stigmas from the flower. It's about three inches long, and almost looks man-made.





























