Throwback Thursday – Echinacea Encore

Chris Mousseau

I know…you’ve seen my purple coneflowers before. More than once. I can’t help myself though…Echinacea is the backbone of my summer garden, loved by me, bees and butterflies. Mostly I have E. purpurea in various shades of purple but also the white flowering variety and Pale Purple Coneflower – Echinacea pallida, which self seeds as readily as its cousins, blooms earlier and is generally much taller with narrower rays/petals.

Happy bee (anyone know what the species is??) on E. pallida

Every Thursday this winter I’ll post an image or two taken last summer. I found that 2024 sped by so quickly and was filled with so many events, both happy and sad, that I feel I didn’t have time to simply enjoy it – especially the garden. And so I’d like, for just a few moments a week this winter, to pretend it’s still summer. To remember and re-live for an instant the sun’s warmth, the insect and birdsong, the heavy fragrances on humid, moist, slow moving air. Feel free to join me! I’m going to try to find photos I haven’t already shared, which may prove difficult, I know, and just write a line or two of explanation.

14 Comments

  7. Beautiful flowers, and a leaf-cutter bee! They’re so cute, and you managed a good photo that shows how they carry their pollen on their abdomens, rather than on their legs, like honeybees.

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  8. Well, I love the coneflowers Chris, but am learning about bees too thanks to your knowledgeable commenters! I saw some leaf-cutter bees nesting under a rose shrub in a pot last year, but must look at them closer this year… I could only identify them because they were cutting leaves. Amazing to watch! 😃

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