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RichKellerPhotography @rihilismphotography.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 22m

Lots of orange sulphur butterflies this fall like this one from early October. I've a several photos of them on different flowers and that orange-green really pops against dense bright colors. #insects #butterflies #BloomScrolling #nature #wildlife […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

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RichKellerPhotography @rihilismphotography.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 2h

Yellow wildflowers are ubiquitous in Iowa. They're all remarkably similar & most are members of the Asteraceae family. An ID app suggests this is cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata), a new species for me. It looks a lot like wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia), imo. #flowers #BloomScrolling

Photograph of a (possible) cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata) surrounded by out of focus green foliage. The flower is in the center frame, and the view is looking down on the top of the flower. Cutleaf coneflower is a member of the Asteraceae family and has the typical flower shape of that family with long petals that radiate from a center filled with florets. This species' petals are a bright yellow and drape down from the flower's central disk or cone that's filled with bright green florets making up most of the disk along with a row of spiky yellow florets circling the center.

Photograph of a small field of (possible) cutleaf coneflowers (Rudbeckia laciniata) surrounded by out of focus green foliage. A small cluster of flowers in the center right frame is in sharp focus. Cutleaf coneflower is a member of the Asteraceae family and has the typical flower shape of that family with long petals that radiate from a center filled with florets. This species' petals are a bright yellow and drape down from the flower's central disk or cone that's filled with bright green florets making up most of the disk along with a row of spiky yellow florets circling the center.

Photograph of a pair (possible) cutleaf coneflowers (Rudbeckia laciniata) surrounded by out of focus green foliage. The flower in the right center frame is in sharp focus with the flower on the left and the rest of the frame out of focus. Cutleaf coneflower is a member of the Asteraceae family and has the typical flower shape of that family with long petals that radiate from a center filled with florets. This species' petals are a bright yellow and drape down from the flower's central disk or cone that's filled with bright green florets making up most of the disk along with a row of spiky yellow florets circling the center.

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RichKellerPhotography @rihilismphotography.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 25/10/2026

3-4 yrs ago I noticed sheets of #spider web covering patches of nearby juniper bushes. Following the sheet's gradient leads to a web hole that plunges into the juniper interior. Been trying to catch a good pic of the (likely) spotted orbweaver for yrs now […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

Extreme closeup photograph of a (likely) spotted orbweaver (Neoscona crucifera) sitting at the center of a funnel-shaped web with out of focus webbing and bright green juniper branches and leaves in the foreground. The spider takes up most of the left frame and is looking directly at the camera with its legs grasping the interior webbing. It's face and mandibles are in sharp focus while most of its body is out of focus. This spider species has a large, tan, flat, heart-shaped abdomen with darker markings, a brown cephalothorax with darker markings, dark brown mandibles, and tan segmented legs with darker striping at or near the joints.

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RichKellerPhotography @rihilismphotography.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 25/10/2026

My cup plants, a native sunflower, were marvelous this yr. Several were 7-8 ft (~2-2.5 m) tall & all produced a huge # of flowers. The largest ones produced 50+ flowers from continuously blooming inflorescences. Each plant was like its own micro-ecosystem and […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

Photograph of several blooming cup plants (Silphium perfoliatum) with the corner of an out of focus brown painted building visible in the far-left frame and a gray overcast sky in the background. Each green plant is as tall as 8 ft (~2.5 m) with a thick (2-2.5 in, ~5-6.5 cm) and stiff central stalk lined with large leaves that attach directly to the stalk and form a cup-like shape around it. Tall, multi-branched inflorescences top each plant that produces multiple stalks. Cup plants are a member of the Asteraceae family and have the typical flower shape of that family with long petals that radiate from a central disk or cone filled with florets. This species has long yellow petals that radiate from a center with green and yellow florets.

Photograph of a small cluster of cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum) flowers with out of focus flowers in the background. Each green cup plant is as tall as 8 ft (~2.5 m) with a thick (2-2.5 in, ~5-6.5 cm) and stiff central stalk lined with large leaves that attach directly to the stalk and form a cup-like shape around it. Tall, multi-branched inflorescences top each plant that produces multiple stalks. Cup plants are a member of the Asteraceae family and have the typical flower shape of that family with long petals that radiate from a central disk or cone filled with florets. This species has long yellow petals that radiate from a center with green and yellow florets.

Photograph of a cluster of blooming cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum) inflorescences with an out of focus brown building in the background. Each green cup plant is as tall as 8 ft (~2.5 m) with a thick (2-2.5 in, ~5-6.5 cm) and stiff central stalk lined with large leaves that attach directly to the stalk and form a cup-like shape around it. Tall, multi-branched inflorescences top each plant that produces multiple stalks. Cup plants are a member of the Asteraceae family and have the typical flower shape of that family with long petals that radiate from a central disk or cone filled with florets. This species has long yellow petals that radiate from a center with green and yellow florets.

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RichKellerPhotography @rihilismphotography.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 24/10/2026

Margined calligrapher fly sampling Asiatic dayflower pollen. One of my favorite pics from late summer/fall. Whelp, I finally got moved to another server and will start posting more regularly soon. Still recovering from back surgery but things seem to be […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

$Margined calligraphy fly (seems likely) feeding on the yellow pollen on an anther of an Asiatic dayflower. The fly is standing on the flower's protruding and downward facing stamens while gathering pollen on the anthers with its abdomen pointed up, its head pointing down, and its wing extended on either side. The wings are at an angle to the incoming light, and the typically clear wings flash a rainbow of colors due to refraction. Asiatic dayflowers have two "true" blue vertical petals above the flower's center and one, smaller, horizontal white petal below. They have a green spathe or sheathing that supports from below and encloses the flower interior. The flower has three, long infertile white stamens with brown anthers, three shorter, fertile blue stamens with yellow and maroon anthers, and a white pistil. The dayflower is a small and roughly ½ - 1" wide. Margined calligraphy flies (a species of hover fly) have gold and brown-black striped and marked abdomen, a brown-black thorax with gold sides, a gold head that is mostly made up of two, large, brown compound eyes, two small antennae, six gold and brown segmented legs, and two transparent wings with dark veining.$

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RichKellerPhotography @rihilismphotography.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 03/10/2026

Look, a squirrel! Now that I have your attention, I wanted to say that I've not posted for quite a bit b/c I'm getting ready for back surgery this month. Be back ta postin' soon after. And I got a lot 'o pics. To Mastodon folks (I'm cross-posting), I need to […] [Original post on toot.community]

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RichKellerPhotography @rihilismphotography.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 01/08/2026

Bicolored sweat bee (Agapostemon virescens seems likely) grabbing a snack from a cup plant bloom. Some of my cup plants top out ~ 6-7 ft (1.8m) including the inflorescences now so it's getting a bit challenging to take macros, lol. #bees #insects #garden #nature #wildlife #photography #AltText

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RichKellerPhotography @rihilismphotography.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 01/08/2026

My obedient plants have started blooming in my little slice of prairie. This is only the 2nd yr for my prairie patch & the 1st yr that everything bloomed. Asters bloomed 1st yr but won't bloom again till later this month. #flowers #BloomScrolling #nature #NaturePhotography #photography #AltText

Photograph of a large patch of blooming native prairie plants with a smaller patch of blooming obedient plants (Physostegia virginiana is likely) in the foreground. The patch runs along a driveway and in front of a building with tan siding and the view is from the lower driveway looking upwards. The obedient plants are in focus and take up most of the right central frame while the rest of the frame is out of focus. Obedient plants have inflorescences with a long central stem with rows of flower buds that surround the stem from bottom to top. The flowers begin to bloom at the bottom of the stem and continue to slowly open till the top-most buds open and the blooming cycle is complete. The stems and leaves are a green. The plant is part of the mint family and like many members it has long, pale purple and white, tubular flowers that have darker purple spots and markings. Pollinators enter at the front of the flower where stamen on the upper, front petal spreads pollen on the back of entering insects.

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RichKellerPhotography @rihilismphotography.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 31/07/2026

Had a lovely visitor to the garden the other day👇. Haven't posted much lately. Been really busy, my big lens in on the fritz, & I'm getting ready for back surgery this fall so my posts/replies will be sporadic till then. #insects #butterflies #MacroPhotography #photography #AltText

Closeup photograph of a yellow eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly grasping a pink bee balm floret with out of focus bee balm flowers and green foliage in the background. The butterfly takes up most of the right center frame. It is grasping a floret with its legs, its body is hanging downward, and its proboscis is inserted into the same floret down while facing the flower with its wings open leaving its back, the back of its head, and the back of its wings visible. Eastern tiger swallowtail butterflies have yellow wings with black edging, short black vertical stripes near the wing top, yellow and black veining, black edges along the sides and bottom of their wings with yellow scallop-shaped spotting and small metallic-blue and orange spots near the bottom-center of the wings, black bodies and heads covered in fine hairs, yellow stripes along either side of the back and head, large black compound eyes, two long, black antennae, and six black, segmented legs, and a long black proboscis used for probing the interiors of flower for nectar.

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RichKellerPhotography @rihilismphotography.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 18/07/2026

The flowers are attracting the bumbles in larger #'s. This is my favorite time of the year in the garden when the blooms bring in bunches of bugs 👍. #bees #insects #wildlife #WildlifePhotography #nature #NaturePhotography #photography #AltText

Closeup photograph of a brown-belted bumblebee atop the red and orange florets of a purple coneflower with an out of focus opening purple coneflower and stem in the foreground and vague greens in the background. The out of focus purple coneflower bud and stem take up most of the left frame. The bee is facing left in the right frame, and the view is looking down at the bee's head. This species of bumblebee has a black abdomen covered in fine black hairs, a "belt" of fine brown hairs where the abdomen meets the thorax, a thorax covered in fine golden yellow hairs, a black head covered in fine black and yellow hairs, two large compound eyes and three, small simple eyes, two short antennae, large mandibles, and six legs with long hairs on the hind legs used to store gathered pollen.

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RichKellerPhotography @rihilismphotography.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 18/07/2026

Bee balm just bloomed behind the coneflowers. Green plants in front/back of the bee balm are sky blue/purple New England asters that should start blooming next mo. Cup plants doing well & towering @~5-6ft (1-2m). #flowers #BloomScrolling #gardening #nature #NaturePhotography #photography #AltText

Photograph of a large bed of blooming bee balm flowers in front of a bed of blooming yellow coneflowers and a bed of blooming purple coneflowers with a cluster of blooming cup plants atop a small bank to the right of the bee balm, green aster and obedient plant foliage in the foreground, and an out of focus buildings and trees in the background. The view is looking up the right side of a driveway. The small bank covered in various prairie plants abuts the side of a building with tan siding. Bee balm flowers produce a circular, cone-like inflorescences made up of tubular flowers that begin blooming at the top and then open down the sides. Each tubular flower is made up of a tubular, pointed upper lip and a curved and curled lower lip. Two stamens protrude from the end of the upper flower lip. The flowers extend from a central structure called a calyx which is supported bracts as well as sepals where it connects with the stem. This species has pink to purple-pink petals, green calyx, and green bracts.

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RichKellerPhotography @rihilismphotography.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 16/07/2026

There's sort of a mental vignetting that occurs whenever I take a photograph. My thoughts disperse to the periphery, my anxieties and heart rate lesson, I breath deeply but without effort, & my racing mind gets a chance to rest. #flowers #gardening #BloomScrolling #photography #AltText

Photograph of a purple coneflower flower with a Western honeybee exploring the flower's florets and out of focus yellow and purple coneflowers in the background. The flower takes up most of the central frame and the view is from the side looking across the flower's face. The honeybee is exploring the florets on the far-right side of the flower's central cone. This bee species has a black and gold striped abdomen, a dark brown thorax with fine gold hairs and fine brown-black hairs, a black head covered in fine brown-black hairs and fine gold hairs, large dark compound eyes, mandibles, two antennae, six black segmented legs, and two transparent wings with amber veining. Purple coneflower (Genus: Echinacea) is a member of the Asteraceae family and have the typical flower shape of that family with long petals that radiate from a center filled with florets. This species has pink-purple petals that radiate from a center filled with red and green florets. The florets are green near the center and are surrounded by red-orange florets.

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RichKellerPhotography @rihilismphotography.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 11/07/2026

Never used my Instagram account (20 posts, 2 followers) b/c it was just a place holder for my handle. Got it during the period when a lot of photographers were leaving Instagram for pre-Musk Twitter b/c Zuckerberg, who hasn't had an original idea since he decided to rate female students that […]

toot.community

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RichKellerPhotography @rihilismphotography.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 10/07/2026

I've several catalogs of pics I've taken since '21. I often browse thru them for favorites I'd like to repost. Sometimes I find a surprise like a folder of unedited peachy-pink lily pics from '24. #flowers #BloomScrolling #nature #NaturePhotography #gardening #Photography #AltText

Photograph of a lily with out of focus lily flowers, lily flower buds, and green foliage in the background. The flower is in the center frame, and the view is looking down into the flower's interior from the front of the flower. This variety of lily has six peach-pink petals with dark spots near the flowers center which contains six, large, petal-length pale peach stamens with orange anthers and a large, petal-length yellow pistil with a yellow stigma.

Photograph of a lily with out of focus lily flowers, lily flower buds, and green foliage in the background. The flower is in the right frame, and the view is looking down into the flower's interior from the left side of the flower. This variety of lily has six peach-pink petals with dark spots near the flowers center which contains six, large, petal-length pale peach stamens with orange anthers and a large, petal-length yellow pistil with a yellow stigma.

Photograph of a lily with out of focus lily flowers, lily flower buds, and green foliage in the background. The flower is in the left frame, and the view is looking down into the flower's interior from the front of the flower. This variety of lily has six peach-pink petals with dark spots near the flowers center which contains six, large, petal-length pale peach stamens with orange anthers and a large, petal-length yellow pistil with a yellow stigma.

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RichKellerPhotography @rihilismphotography.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 08/07/2026

I started this wildflower garden from seed about 3 yrs ago. Scattered seeds in patches but had some happy accidents like this yellow coneflower popping up amid the purple coneflowers & the random prairie blazing star stalk in the foreground. #BloomScrolling #nature #photography #AltText

Photograph of a yellow coneflower blooming in the middle of a patch of blooming purple coneflower with a flowering prairie blazing star stalk in the foreground is the far-left frame. Prairie blazing star has a towering inflorescence that is covered in small, frilly star-shaped blooms. The blooms begin opening at the top of the stalk and then the flowers bloom down the stalk's length creating a tall stalk covered in small blooms. Purple coneflower (Genus: Echinacea) is a member of the Asteraceae family and have the typical flower shape of that family with long petals that radiate from a center filled with florets. This species has pink-purple petals that radiate from a center filled with red and green florets. The florets are green near the center and are surrounded by red-orange florets. Yellow coneflower (Ratibida pinnata seems likely) is also a member of the Asteraceae family and have the typical flower shape of that family with long petals that radiate from a center filled with florets. The petals are a bright yellow and drape down from the flower's center and around the flower's stem. The flower stem is long, slender, and stiff but flexible enough to blow in the wind as well. Atop the flower sits its large "cone", an elongated ball which is made up of many florets. The opened florets are dark brown while the unopened florets are a pale green to light brown.

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RichKellerPhotography @rihilismphotography.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 07/07/2026

I don't know how many flowers look beautiful at every stage of development (including death) but purple coneflowers should be on that list, imo. #flowers #BloomScrolling #nature #NaturePhotography #garden #gardening #photography #AltText

Photograph of an opening purple coneflower flower with out of focus flowers and a tan wall in the background. The view is from the side. The coneflower has just started opening and its petals are still curled in tubular structures that radiate upward like spikes around the circumference of the central cone. Purple coneflower (Genus: Echinacea) is a member of the Asteraceae family and have the typical flower shape of that family with long petals that radiate from a center filled with florets. This species has pink-purple petals that radiate from a center filled with red and green florets. The florets are green near the center and are surrounded by red-orange florets.

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RichKellerPhotography @rihilismphotography.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 06/07/2026

Every time I see a groundhog (aka woodchuck) I'm unable to take pics b/c I'm either on my bike on the way someway or w/o my camera. Was on the bike yesterday but had my camera so I decided to stop and end the vicious cycle, 😉. #wildlife #WildlifePhotography #nature #photography #AltText

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RichKellerPhotography @rihilismphotography.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 02/07/2026

The day lilies were planted by my landlady well before I moved in. They do their own thing in shady spot on the far side of our building. I'm the only one that sees/enjoys them regularly. I moved some hostas in that area to keep them company 👍. #BloomScrolling #nature #photography #AltText

Closeup photograph of a day lily with out of focus green foliage and a brown wooden trellis support in the background. The view is looking directly at the flower's face. This variety of day lily has three yellow sepals with peach midribs under three yellow petals with peach midribs that form a trumpet shape around the flower's center. The midribs are textured ridges that run down the center of each sepal and petal, and the sepals and petals are offset creating a six-pointed star. In the flower's center are six yellow stamens with brown anthers and an orange pistil both of which extend from the flower's interior and end just short of the largest petals.

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RichKellerPhotography @rihilismphotography.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 02/07/2026

I started w/ 5 gladiolus corms & 3 yrs later it kinda feels like a bushel 🤷‍♂️. I'm running out of places to put them but they seem to fit/be doing great in this location. I just love mass plantings 👍. Blooms coming soon🤞. #flowers #BloomScrolling #nature #garden #gardening #photography #AltText

Photograph of an opening gladiolus flower with out of focus opening gladiolus flowers and bright green gladiolus foliage in the background. The view is from the side of the opening bud. This variety has pale white-pink petals arranged in a triangular shape. The petals have magenta edging and fade to a pale yellow and then a lime green near the flower's center which contains three white stamens with oval white anthers edged in purple and a white pistil with a pink stigma. This bud has split and extended past the protective green sepal but is still tightly curled so that only the magenta edges are visible.

Photograph of a patch of approximately 15 gladiolus plants with an out focus lawn covered with small white clover flowers in the background. The view is from the side, and the gladiolus have been placed in lines starting at a curb in the foreground and extending back and slightly down a hill directly behind. One of the plants has a few flower buds that have started to open revealing the magenta color of the flower's edging. Gladiolus (Latin, "little sword") have long sword-like green leaves that extend out to either side in overlapping layers that envelop the central stem This variety has pale white-pink petals arranged in a triangular shape. The petals have magenta edging and fade to a pale yellow and then a lime green near the flower's center which contains three white stamens with oval white anthers edged in purple and a white pistil with a pink stigma.

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RichKellerPhotography @rihilismphotography.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 02/07/2026

Pale purple coneflower. Strange, they're a favorite (especially given their attraction to bumble bees) but it wasn't till this yr that I got a big patch going. Two yrs of hard work paid off prettily 👍. #flowers #BloomScrolling #nature #NaturePhotography #garden #gardening #photography #AltText

Photograph of a pale purple coneflower flower with out of focus green foliage in the background. The view is from the side and above looking down at the flower's face. Purple coneflower (Genus: Echinacea) is a member of the Asteraceae family and have the typical flower shape of that family with long petals that radiate from a center filled with florets. This species has pink-purple petals that radiate from a center filled with red and green florets. The florets are green near the center and are surrounded by red-orange florets. This particular flower is paler than most with the purple faded too almost pink. This could either be a species variation, or it could indicate that the flower is still immature.

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RichKellerPhotography @rihilismphotography.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 02/07/2026

My 1st native cup plant bloom (Silphium perfoliatum seems likely). It's their 2nd yr & they're all around 3-5ft (0.9-1.5m). I've seen plants on the restored prairie ~ 7-8ft (2.1-2.4m). The same inflorescence produces a cluster of flowers. #flowerws #BloomScolling #nature #photography #AltText

Photograph of a cup plant flower (likely Silphium perfoliatum) with out of focus green foliage and tan siding in the background. The view is from the front but slightly to the right side. Silphium have yellow petals arranged in a daisy-like structure with a defined, orange-yellow and green center that is made up of small flowers or florets (ray florets and disc florets). The flowers extend from an inflorescence that can contain as many as 100 stems and the plants can reach a height of 7-8 ft. This plant is about 4-5 ft tall but is still growing and it's only in its second.

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Reposted by RichKellerPhotography

Piotr Walicki 📸 🦅 @zvrt.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 28/06/2026

Common Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus, 🇩🇪 Teichrohrsänger, 🇵🇱 trzcinniczek). #birds #birdphotography #birdsofmastodon #birdwatching #nature #naturephotography #vogelflausch #ptaki

This close-up shows a singing common reed warbler perched on a reed stalk in a thicket. The bird is partially hidden by the reeds and has a ring on its leg.

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RichKellerPhotography @rihilismphotography.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 27/06/2026

I've sown both, so at first I thought this was lanceleaf coreopsis but based on the leaves this appears to be plains coreopsis missing the maroon center. Like rudbeckia, coreopsis flowers can vary from plants to plant. #flowers #BloomScrolling #nature #NaturePhotography #photography #AltText

Photograph of a plains coreopsis flower (Coreopsis tinctoria seems likely) with an out of focus coreopsis flower and blurred green foliage in the background. The flower is in the left frame, and the view is looking at the flower's face with the out of focus flower in the background to its right. Plains coreopsis flowers have long golden yellow petals that end in scalloped edges and turn sharply to maroon about halfway to the flower's center. The petals radiate from a ball-shape central disk filled maroon florets with yellow anthers and stamens. Coreopsis flowers bloom atop long, slender, green, leafless stems that extend from the plant's base. This particular flower is atypical in that the bloom is all yellow and it is missing the typical maroon coloring at the base of the petals.

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RichKellerPhotography @rihilismphotography.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 26/06/2026

My purple poppy mallow is spreading out nicely. Surprisingly, those are only 2 plants & they were the size of dinner plates last yr. Wants to spread into other flower beds so I'll have to watch it but it's tendrils are easy to pin back. #flowers #BloomScrolling #nature#photography #AltText

Photograph of a couple of blooming purple poppy mallow plants (Callirhoe involucrata). One plant is in the foreground, and one is out of focus in the background. The plants send out flower covered tendrils which the plant uses to create satellite plants in addition to seed propagation. The view is from the side, and both plants are sending out tendrils that from left to right where they eventually overflow a concrete curb in the foreground. The patches of the flowers, stems, leaves, and the background are highlighted by sunlight while the rest of the frame is in shadows. Poppy mallow has thick green stems and green palmate leaves with sharp edges. Each flower has five, red-purple, overlapping petals that form a cup shape surrounding a white center with a cone-shaped structure made up of many white stamens with white anthers below a magenta pistil.Extreme closeup photograph of a winecup or purple poppy mallow flower (Callirhoe involucrata) surrounded by out of focus green foliage. Each flower has five, red-purple, overlapping petals that form a cup shape surrounding a white center with a cone-shaped structure made up of many white stamens with white anthers below a magenta pistil.

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RichKellerPhotography @rihilismphotography.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 25/06/2026

I can now add a double petaled flower to the variations on the rudbeckia that I sowed last year. The different forms are so much fun and the maroons are some of the most beautiful I've come across. #flowers #BloomScrolling #ThreeOnThursday #nature #NaturePhotography #photography #AltText

Photograph of a rudbeckia flower with out of focus white daisy fleabane flowers and green foliage the background. The flower is in the center left frame and the view if from above and to the side. Typically, this species has long yellow and maroon petals that radiate from a central cone structure made up of maroon florets with golden pollen. Each petal is maroon near the flower's center and transitions sharply to bright yellow about halfway along the petal's length. Rudbeckia plants vary with some that produce the typical flowers while other produce nearly all yellow petals, others produce nearly all magenta petals, and others produce flowers with multiple layers of petals. The flower is typical in coloring but has double petals.

Photograph of a rudbeckia flower with out of focus green foliage in the background. The flower is in the center right frame and the view if from above. Typically, this species has long yellow and maroon petals that radiate from a central cone structure made up of maroon florets with golden pollen. Each petal is maroon near the flower's center and transitions sharply to bright yellow about halfway along the petal's length. Rudbeckia plants vary with some that produce the typical flowers while other produce nearly all yellow petals, others produce nearly all magenta petals, and others produce flowers with multiple layers of petals. Instead of maroon, this flower has a darker shade of orange-yellow that transitions to a canary yellow roughly halfway up the petal.

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RichKellerPhotography @rihilismphotography.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 25/06/2026

This lovely creature is native spotted bee balm (Monarda punctata). It's buds haven't opened yet but this the 1st plant/flower I've managed in my garden so far. Looking forward to more👍 #flowers #BloomScrolling #garden #gardening #nature #NaturePhotography #photography #AltText

Photograph of a spotted bee balm (Monarda punctata) flower with out of focus green foliage and vague grays in the background. The bee balm is in the left frame, and the view is from the side. Bee balm flowers produce a spherical cone-like inflorescences made up of tubular flowers that begin blooming at the top and then open down the sides. Each flower is made up of a tubular, pointed upper lip and a curved and curled lower lip. Two stamens protrude from the end of the upper flower lip. The flowers extend from a central structure called a calyx which is supported bracts as well as sepals where it connects with the stem. This species has yellow flowers with magenta spots, a green calyx, and pink and green bracts. It also produces multiple calyxes along the same stem each one extending directly from the top center of the older calyx.

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RichKellerPhotography @rihilismphotography.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 24/06/2026

My native shrubby St. John's wort (Hypericum prolificum) is quite shrubby & productive this yr. A favorite, I ran across a single plant in the wild yrs ago & it was one of the 1st plants I added to my garden 👍. #flowers #BloomScrolling #gardening #nature #NaturePhotography #photography #AltText

Photograph of a yellow shrubby St. John's wort (Vendor IDs as Hypericum prolificum) flower in the middle of a cluster of flower buds and leaves with out of focus greys and greens in the background. This species of St. John's wort, like most, has five yellow, tear-drop shaped petals that radiate from a center filled with a very large number of yellow stamens with yellow anthers that form a pin-cushion-like structure surrounding a single yellow tapered-cone shaped pistil at the flower's center.

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RichKellerPhotography @rihilismphotography.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 24/06/2026

Milkweed produces large seeds. Each seed is attached to a cluster of fluffy floss which allows them to propagate via wind. I'm finding it all over my garden now like this small plant trying to catch some light from between the bigger plants. #flowers #BloomScrolling #nature #Photography #AltText

Photograph of several flower clusters on an orange butterfly weed plant (Asclepias tuberosa) with out of focus green foliage in the background. A single small flower in one cluster is highlighted by sunlight streaming in between the larger plants that surround the plant while the remainder of the frame is in shadow. Each cluster is made up of small orange flowers. Each flower has five lower sepals and five orange petals that bend downward around the stem. Atop each flower is a structure called a corona that consists of five hood-like florets that contain hooked “beaks”. When viewed closeup the flower sort of give the impression of a face-sucking alien species.

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