Garden Observations: veronicastrum virginicum lavendelturm

The veronicastrum puts on a long show of flowers. This year, I noticed something unexpected; honey bees absolutely swarming the blooms. I'd never paid attention to their interest before, but now that I keep my own bees, I find myself watching where they go and what they're drawn to.

What really catches my eye at this time of year is the transformation: the once-green foliage turns a beautiful yellow, topped with faded flower heads. Like the flowering season itself, this yellow phase lingers for quite a while, providing extended interest well into autumn.