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I'd been waiting a year to get more photos of the tenpetal blazingstar, a unique flower that only opens up at dusk. A.k.a. eveningstar; of the stickleaf family. My friend J. accompanied me down to Hot Springs last night, where we enjoyed fine dining at Pizza Hut...before heading further south a few miles to one of two spots where we know the flower grows. I haven't seen it anywhere further N in the Black Hills...it likes the dry, desert-like soil found in the S-most part of the Hills.
Since the blazingstar doesn't open up until dusk, it is pollenated by moths. We did see bees out collecting too. The flower is favored by the white-lined sphinx moth, shown here. The moths flew by quite close to my face, a bit unnerving. The sphinx's wing span can reach 3.5" wide. It is called a hummingbird moth due to the way that it hovers, wings beating rapidly, as it sips the flower's nectar. You can see the red clay earth in the background that the blazingstar seems to favor, besides the dry brown clay earth in the Badlands area.
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I'd been waiting a year to get more photos of the tenpetal blazingstar, a unique flower that only opens up at dusk. A.k.a. eveningstar; of the stickleaf family. My friend J. accompanied me down to Hot Springs last night, where we enjoyed fine dining at Pizza Hut...before heading further south a few miles to one of two spots where we know the flower grows. I haven't seen it anywhere further N in the Black Hills...it likes the dry, desert-like soil found in the S-most part of the Hills.
Since the blazingstar doesn't open up until dusk, it is pollenated by moths. We did see bees out collecting too. The flower is favored by the white-lined sphinx moth, shown here. The moths flew by quite close to my face, a bit unnerving. The sphinx's wing span can reach 3.5" wide. It is called a hummingbird moth due to the way that it hovers, wings beating rapidly, as it sips the flower's nectar. You can see the red clay earth in the background that the blazingstar seems to favor, besides the dry brown clay earth in the Badlands area.
You are really off the beaten path to capture some fine Black Hills secrets! Keep your camera eye open. . .
ReplyDeleteWhat a treat to see the lovely little moth on that beautiful bloom. Really great photo, Jann!
ReplyDeleteMarnie
what a brilliant moth......gosh would I love to see that
ReplyDeleteSheila
Nice looking flowere Jann....and Moth! worth waiting a year for i'd say.
ReplyDeleteNice photos Jann...we have hummingbird moths here in Ohio that love my butterfly bushes...they do look slightly different though.
ReplyDeleteThose are beautiess,both flower and moth.good pics Jann..
ReplyDeleteThat's the most beautiful flower I believe I have ever seen.....Amazing photo Jann
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures and post. Here in our desert we have the yellow blazingstar, but your white one is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThe flower is beautiful, worth the trouble.
ReplyDeleteGreat shot of the Blazingstar! Did you get that with your Fugi? Beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful flower! And that moth is adorable. Great photos!
ReplyDeleteWanda ~ there are different types of hummingbird moths, I just found out when trying to ID this one!
ReplyDeleteBill ~ I've seen the yellow blazingstar, on our way to Yellowstone in WY...but didn't have the chance to get photos, UGH!
Aspen ~ yes, the flower photo was taken with my Fuji pocket camera, LOL! The moth one was taken with my Sony DSLR 70mm. Not my favorite lens!
Such a great post..and all the work and effort you went to ..to get that picture! It definitely was worth every second...what a gorgeous flower..and that moth is quite stunning..but a wingspan of 3 1/2 yikes that's like having a small bird buzz by your face!!
ReplyDeleteNeat post loved it!!