Chinese praying mantid. Often incorrectly called praying mantis. This female was approximately 4 inches long.
A bloom from an epicactus. This particular flower was 6 inches in diameter.
Tall ironweed (Vernonia altissima). A native perennial; late flowering in August and September. This is just the top part of the plant. The entire clump is almost 15 feet tall.
Crape myrtle rubra compacta. A smaller variety; you can see that it's very free flowering. Almost every stem has a blossom even though it's not in full sun.
