Calopogon tuberosus

[fredg]

This is a plant that the slugs and snails just love. I learned that lesson pretty quickly with the first one I acquired. Duly planted up and sitting nicely in a Sarracenia lagoon I was looking forward to seeing the eventual flowers, What I did find the next morning was the skeleton of a leaf. The plant did survive and continued to flower in subsequent seasons. Last year again theplants were reduced to stubble during an overnight grazing spree, so now I have them surrounded with home-made slug pellet traps. Under international treaty I'm not allowed to plant landmines.

Here's the first flower this year.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ZYLeTIE49Wy3ta1-YnnrwL8Oqm2gDZnl8nA5zGRPmEgCAqoQI9Rd5lr8tE3IVkeyAlCaekGc9cAKc9ZY9Wkxaj7FESqk_u6eHTJAFt_66HxnUMjPw6m5_aFHTqCznWPjslMAFSGQ3w=w2400

Now the little guy is in that photo but he shows up better in the next angle, particularly when there's a black circle around him.

Just who is this cartoon super-hero flying out of the flower?

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/4RxJ2s8vFsgxf7b0NcbGAYx6C-cyDN8UIsjuJzP1yWdRS-Gf7exm_CreSw_9FVWBxgVXqs9TYsJMquSEss1FXk_19CTLrWeLpTw7SRr9s_Z4GYPrhAlE-VUvFacjmQkiLQbRIbeqhw=w2400

 

[schmiggle]

Yet another stunning flower. This is one that I'm hoping to find someday, though it's not likely to happen this year. Your picture captures the elegance of it particularly well.

 

[fredg]

Sorry but they're too good not to take photos

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/AdGjeaRVHYD3aB1x0ZApSt2vRLXcLo4pxhJf2-PzGnHp8QcojJRxWc_LkvCiR4fZkwnXCxyow0f8JIN-f_8Bo-MeWT_R3L-7fNnUX7PdwgJXIHZxsqHkNgU1ROcZkfpTP5JFkBuM7Q=w2400

 

[bluemax]

Indeed!