Sarracenia Hybrid

 

Sarracenia leucophylla “red” x minor ‘Giant’

    This is the second growing season for this Sarracenia leucophylla “red” x minor ‘Giant’ (American pitcher plant).  Last year the pitchers were only 3-4" tall, but this year some pitchers are up to 17" tall. The tall pitcher on the left is fully open and collecting bugs.  The tall pitcher on the right is nearing it's maximum height and the pitcher will start to open up.

The open pitcher.

The pitcher will remain closed until it reaches the final height.

The backlighting shows of the "bug fill line", on this pitcher.

Venus Flytrap, Blooming and Digesting!

Venus Flytrap

    This Venus Flytrap has five bloom stalks, and all blooms are well above the traps.  Yesterday I saw a bee visiting the blooms, and it stayed safely away from the traps below.

Two Bugs In A Venus Flytrap

    A double helping?  This backlit picture of Venus flytrap shows the silhouette of two bugs in the trap.  I doubt the trap caught two live bugs at the same time.  Most likely one is the exoskeleton from a previous capture and it may have helped attract the second bug.  So, I would say this trap is digesting a "second helping"!

 

Rock Rose Visitor

 

Rock Rose

    I'm a big fan of Rock Rose.  Mike has a several Rock Rose plants and they grow really well on the hillside.  I like the bright color of the blooms and the crinkly texture of the petals.  While I was looking at this photo on my computer monitor, I noticed the white spot in the bloom.  Zooming in I see it is a common White Garden Spider!

White Garden Spider