Even though I have called this plant the “constellation plant” for as long I can remember – it has different sized globes shooting off in all directions, just like a constellation in space – its common name is Rattlesnake Master, a name given to it by Native Americans who used its root as an antidote for a rattlesnake bite.
This perennial is a marker of the tallgrass prairies of the Midwest, and often found with companion plants Bush Clover, Purple Coneflower, Sweet Black-eyed Susan, Big Bluestem Grass and Indian Grass. Rattlesnake Master is not easily missed, as it grows to heights of 5 feet. The honey bee pollinates the plant, and it usually has a small swarm of bees buzzing about the flowers (and the photographer!)
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Marcie Scudder of Daily Practice is again featuring a photographer on Saturday Salon, a monthly feature on her photo blog. Marcie interviewed Anita Bower of Anita’s Photoblog on her post today. I have long followed Anita who is a master at photographing botanicals with textured backgrounds. I highly recommend checking out Anita’s interview and her blog.
(If you missed it, Marcie interviewed me last month and we discussed the evolution of Seeded Earth Photography.) Marcie does great interviews!
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Bo Mackison is a photographer and the owner of Seeded Earth Studio LLC.
Looks like a southern yellow jacket to me, Bo, but surely not. Their nasty dispositions would have never allowed you that close! LOL! Gorgeous shot!
Oh, I like this very much – and love the idea of flowers as constellations 🙂
what a great macro of the bee, good spotted too, they can easily be looked over
Constellation plant is a cool name, but I like Rattlesnake Master better.
I love that photo, Bo!