When you first see Wild Columbine along the Stevenson Tract it is difficult to tell how many petals it has. It is even a bit tricky to tell what part are the petals.
If you start at the bottom yellow edge and follow a line straight up to the end of the spur (the hooked part at the top), then you have travelled the distance of one petal. Actually, if you turn the flower face up, you can see there are five of these. You might wonder why I am so interested in these fancy petals. Well, I’m just so impressed by their perfect design. The nectar is kept at the very top tip of the spur. This makes Wild Columbine perfect for hummingbirds. The birds have to place their beaks all the way in to get the nectar. So, the flower becomes very well pollinated. Nature is amazing! I haven’t seen any hummingbirds yet this year. Maybe we’ll see them soon--now that the Wild Columbine is out. Keep adventuring. You are Always in my Prayers. Love Mom. Definition: Nectar is a sugary fluid made by plants to attract pollinators
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Ray & Diane HomewoodSharing the Blessing of Travel Archives
August 2021
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