A white faced wasp got the surprise of it’s life after landing on a spearmint flower spike when what looked to be a piece of debris caught in the flowers turned out to be hungry.

The hornet had caught my attention and wanting to get a good face pic I moved closer to photograph it. Upon arrival I noticed it didn’t move and got in even closer. That’s when I realized the wasp was no more. Now it was lunch.

I interrupted lunch by picking the flower spike and moving it to where I could better photograph this fine dining experience. Luckily the Ambush Bug wasn’t about to let go of it’s meal.

I doubt my nose is on the menu but I’m going to look a lot closer from now on before I stop to smell the flowers.

…and now for something completely different

‘Oh Grasshopper there you are’

Disciple Caine:
What is the greatest obligation that we have?

Master Kan:
To live, Grasshopper. To Live!

…and don’t forget. Never argue with a chicken.

Bur Cucumbers are a member of the Cucumber Family living on the wild side of the garden fence. The fruit bears no resemblance to their pickling cousins and looks nothing like anything you’d want to put in your mouth.

Bur Cucumber Flower – Sicyos angulatus

Hairy and Scary come together. Bald Faced Hornets generally mind their own business and this one didn’t mind me getting in it’s face. Stir up their nest though and you’ll be in a world of trouble.

White Faced Hornet

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Like garden variety cucumbers the wild vines keep producing new fruit as the older ones mature.

I really don’t know if these are edible or not. Looking at them I don’t think anyone would want to try. But something did. Looks like they didn’t finish their meal but at least it gave us a peek at the single flat seed within each pod.

A bit anti-climatic but here’s what the leaf looks like.

Wild Bergamot is no longer the place to dine for the romantically inclined. Now that the Monarda fistulosa has pretty much dried up the Ambush Bugs have moved to the Goldenrod Cafe.

Back in the day the Bergamot crowd didn’t seem to worry about being color coordinated. Back then they wore a lot of green that clashed with their surroundings. You can go back and see them here – Ambush Bugs on Bergamot

The bugs of today might be better dressers but they’re still bug ugly.

I interrupted this loving couple’s dinner. Some poor wasp had gotten trapped at their table. I don’t know if it was the conversation or the couples table manners but the wasp had that ‘life sucked out of me’ look of the terminally bored. Well anyway, when I showed up the wasp dropped out of sight. Ya can’t blame her though, when those two get in your face things get nasty.

I’m not easily intimidated so I gave them a finger and got in their faces. The tactic worked and they didn’t give me any hassles. I got a couple good shots in and put them in their place before leaving. Back on a nice goldenrod plume so they could continue their dinner date.

I didn’t catch their full names but they’re Phymata something or other.