May Blooms in Ruskin

Elderberry or Water Hemlock

Check it out first.

The picture above is of Water Hemlock. 

One of the most deadly plants. 

 I caught this one in the shadow

to show you that parts of the stems

will have hints of purple streaks,

The picture above is the

Common Elderberry. The Herculesi club variety has thorns.

An Elderberry with dark hanging clusters is for jelly. 

There is a red berry variety that is poison.

  When hiking the swampy areas along the Manatee

 they look very similar when in full bloom,

Below is a picture of Elderberries that are edible. 
They start to show up the first of June.

Pictured below is a close up of a Buttonbush bloom.

You'll see about 20 of these little balls

all over a single bush.  Butterflies love them.

It is May and the Magnolia's are in bloom all over town. 

They range from the small variety here

to the huge 40 foot ones. The swamp variety

   blooms  leaving a 5 inch

bright red glossy pine cone after the pedals fall away. 

A small field of Pink Meadowbeauties

along the road.

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  Tiny little purple flowers along the road

that you'll miss unless you go out  for a stroll.

The Lilies are also in bloom. 

I caught this one in front of the Library.

  And I have seen Easter Lilies along the fences.



Pink Mallows are just starting to bloom. 

Their bushes will be 4 feet high by the end of summer.

The Surinam Cherry Trees drop their fruit in May. 

 Lay a large drop cloth under a tree,

and pick up the fruit in the morning. Tasty

This is a picture from under the Surinam Cherry Tree.

  They are kinda bushy.  Probably best grown

 in a shady sheltered spot and used as an arbor.



A Green Arrow Arum down next to the brackish water

with blooms like an elephant ear underneath.

Peltandra Virginica

Wow, Coreopsis are in bloom all along the road sides

These are our state wildflower



I know a Hydrangea is not a wildflower,

 but this lady always has such beautiful ones

growing in large wooden tubs.

Delightful 4 foot high wispy bushes

 that are continually in bloom.

A dainty light pink Coastal Rosegretian
 blooming in a moist ditch.

I am sad to say because of strange weather
conditions, there are almost no flowers
blooming this summer. If you have noticed, last year,
 there were so many, I had a hard time
narrowing it down to ones I would post. 
So.. I have really nothing to post for June..

Looking.......