12.8.11

Pinching Basil Flowers

Pinching basil flowers off regularly would keep the basil plant lush and leafy.


As I approached my Thai basil flowers, a fly appeared to be drinking nectar.
It seemed really engrossed with the flower.


Yet, on a closer look, the fly seemed to be floating.
Of course that would be defying the law of gravity.


It made sense that the fly was actually in the arms of a white flower spider or a crab spider.
It wasn't the fly that was enjoying a meal after all.
Instead, it was the spider that was enjoying its meal.
Things aren't always what they appear to be.


Shifting my attention on another stalk of basil flower, I found a yellow wasp drinking nectar.
A brown spider was waiting beneath the wasp and several ants were busy on the petals above it.


"You couldn't be seriously thinking of disposing these heavenly flowers, could you?!!!" asked the wasp.

Pinching basil flowers off could keep your basil plant lush and leafy.
You could either use a pair of scissors or even your thumb and index finger.
The last thing you need is a camera.

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40 comments:

  1. I've a hard enough job keeping my basil alive never mind getting it to flower. Great shots of that wasp though I'm no fan of wasps even in photographs - shivers going down my spine looking at him.

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  2. They are really lovely flowers. Great photos.
    Cher Sunray Gardens

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  3. Splendid photos! I love the shots with the wasp.

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  4. Poor fly, what a way to go. Nice captures though. I leave my herbs and lettuce bolt because I was amazed this year all the insects that were feeding. Birds too, grabbing aphids off the bolting lettuce.

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  5. Fabulous capture and wonderful post - you are right - things aren't always as they appear . . .

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  6. There a million stories in the garden, dramatic ones of life, survival, and choices. Do I let the insects have their way or do I cultivate my garden or do I just sit back and watch with camera in hand? I just read a post from Muddy Boot Dreams who lets the creatures live. You take amazing photos and post entertaining narrative.

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  7. Those are beautiful representative photos of a part of the food chain. You are lucky to have observed detailed happenings, you should have taught your kids about it, the drama of the food chain still seen by naked eyes.

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  8. I would say in this case the BEST thing you had was your camera - this is a great shot!

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  9. Such an opportunity to be in the right place at the right time to capture the insects. V

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  10. Amazing that the spider can kill & eat something that is nearly the same size.

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  11. Eine wunderschöne Blüte, die ich noch nie gesehen habe...
    LG: Karin

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  12. They are all lovely but I love the last one!!

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  13. Loved those photos, you inspire me! I need to get my camera out more often.

    Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

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  14. Oh, makes me think twice about deadheading my flowers. You never know how many other creatures depend on the blooms. Amazing photos!

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  15. I like the way you pitch flowers with a camera.

    A camera is for multi-uses.

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  16. RIP dear fly. Nice lovely Thai basil flowers..how come cant see the brown incy wincy spidey gotta excuse Bananaz's CVD.

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  17. gorgeous macro shots! it's a pretty flower, too...haven't seen it before.

    Mellow Yellow Monday

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  18. Never seen my basil flowers at such close range.Great captures.Well if you don't pinh out the flowers, you're letting them self-seed. That's not a bad thing.
    Rosie

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  19. Lovely series!
    Carletta's Captures

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  20. Just fabulous. You just couldn't take away those precious flowers from those hungry little creatures.

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  21. WE always forget to pinch our basil. Thanks for the reminder. Lovely shots.

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  22. what a wonderful shot! :) Love it :)

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  23. It seems like your beautiful Basil flowers are providing a lot of nourishment.
    Great shots.

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  24. Stunning photos - I pinch my normal basil plantrs but left my Thai Basil. I'm so glad you left yours or we would not have seen these wonderful photographs!

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  25. Love the basil closeups. We are all pinching away in Tucson right now. Many of our basil plants are incredibly large and bushy. Love this plant!

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  26. The white flower spider is horrifying. Great storytelling though, and beautiful pictures. Spiders just creep me the heck out.

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  27. poor fly! but you captured the story well..great shots too.

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  28. incredible close-ups!!

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  29. Nice macros photos.
    Thank you for your participation.

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  30. lovely shots! found your blog from mellow yellow monday :)

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  31. Wow, amazing shots, as always.

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  32. The last pic is my favorite...

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  33. Yes we always remember to remove the basil flowers to keep the plant productive for us to enjoy using :)

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