PEAK DANDELION

Dandelions are still providing nectar for bees, beetles, flies and all, but the dandelion season is past its peak.  The buds are fewer and the 'clocks' are outnumbering the flowers.

Ten flowers on this plant 

but already there are more spent flowers lying down than new buds forming.  

They will spend a night or so developing 

and then stand up again and open as the familiar 'clocks'.

This photo shows five stages in the life of the flower, starting at the bottom with the buds, then the flowers, then the closed up calyx enfolding the developing 'clock'.  As it was a windy day I could only find one complete clock, and at the top of the photo you have the stalk after the seeds have floated away beneath their fluffy white parachutes.

And here is a growing plant with buds, flowers and recumbent stalks each ending in a closed up calyx.

These have a couple of new buds - and a bee!  Dandelions are great for pollen and nectar early in the year.

  

   

And  here is an amusing and rather crazy video from Stefan Sobkowiak, another dandelion fan.