I wish you could smell these too - they have a lovely musky perfume.
I soon realised that I was not the only one appreciating the Wallflowers' blooms. They were buzzing with flies, which were having a Field Day drinking the nectar, flitting from one flower to the next, sipping a few drops and then moving on to the next one - the fly equivalent of a Pub Crawl! I wonder if the nectar from the different colours of Wallflower tastes different??
These weren't the usual Hoverflies that I see so many of. They looked more like Houseflies.
Just nearby, the patch of Euphorbia was similarly a-buzz:. This one surely is a Housefly:
This was one of several photos I snapped-off in an attempt to get a good one of the flies:
No flies on that particular one, but do you see the tiny spider?
It is really tiny, because the Euphorbia bract on which it is lurking is only about a centimetre in diameter.
While we're on the subject of flies etc, I just wanted to report that I have just bought a couple of packs of Nemasys "Grow Your Own" nematodes, which I plan to apply to the area in which I will be planting my beans. Last year I lost a lot of bean plants to weevils / root-fly larvae of various sorts, so this year I am launching a "pre-emptive strike" by getting these nematodes to attack any lurking bugs before the beans go in. I wonder if it will work...
*******************************************************************************************
WARNING -- PLAGIARISM
One of my blogging friends - Diana of Malay Kadazan Girls - has recently discovered that some dishonest person has stolen most of the material on her blog and is passing it off as their own work, under a different name. Please do what you can to publicise this issue and demonstrate that you consider this to be totally unacceptable behaviour! Visit her website to see all the details of this sorry tale.
It's always difficult to identify particular flies but the first one definitely isn't a housefly as the wings are laying along its back and a house fly sets its wings in a triangle - if you know what I mean
ReplyDeleteI love your wallflowers. I have never seen had any of those. How interesting that the flies like to drink from them. I'm not a real big fan of spiders anymore since getting bit.
ReplyDeleteMy wallflowers have been totally flattened and the flowers battered into submission - I always grow lots as I love the fragrance - but they haven't really stood a chance this year.
ReplyDeleteThe colours in the wallflowers are really vibrant and cheerful. I can't recall growing wallflowers before but they remind me a little bit of snapdragon antirhinium flowers.
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful wallflowers.. and in so many different colors too! But I still have to say my favorite picture is the close up shot of the spider sitting on the euphorbia. It looks like the spider is enjoying the sun on a beautiful perch.
ReplyDeleteJust see if there are two or two pairs of wings. Diptera have two wings, e.g. house fly, and Hymenoptera have two pairs of wings, e.g. bees, wasps and co.
ReplyDeleteThey are beautiful, good old Wallflowers...
Such beautiful pics yet again Mark!! Shame you couldn't get one of the fly catching the spider .... mmmm.....maybe your next challenge??? Your friend's troubles with her blog are awful! I've heard of quite a few cases recently of content being stolen. It's very sad. lol x
ReplyDeleteI remember your post last year when you'd just planted your wallflowers up. I remember saying that I intended to get some, but I never did, and now I've seen your photos I'm regretting it. They're real beauties. I shall definitely have to get some this year.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty! The flies do a bit of pollinating too then or?
ReplyDeleteWall flowers, my first views on your blog. The spider on the lovely green leaves is so enchanting. thanks for sharing them.
ReplyDelete