In early May, Artemisia stelleriana (Dusty Miller) blooms profusely. Somehow the sunshine yellow flowers always surprise me.
      This collection of images was inspired by stelleriana's summer wardrobe - along with a few honey bees for sweetness. All we need now is a big floppy straw hat!
      The stately silver gray plant, affectionately referred to by old time gardeners as "the old woman" offers no hint of her real personality most of the year. Then, as the temperatures climb to the high 70's and the sun touches her face for eight or nine hours each day, she pushes up long stems of tight white buds. The first time I witnessed this performance I remember thinking how "interesting" the little while flower heads were. What a shock to see the little white flowers burst into clumps of bright yellow daisy like blooms. I love it! So do the bees. If you look carefully you can see one gathering pollen near the top of this photo.

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