Buttonbush, 49

Buttonbush is one of the signature flowers of the mid-July wetlands, and on a recent bike ride past a stand of these shrubs, I noticed that the "buttons," a.k.a, the round flower buds that resemble old-fashioned shirt-closing devices, had started to bloom, so today, I packed up my camera and made the trek to document the annual event. Cephalanthus occidentalis has an unusual and, I think, drop-dead gorgeous blossom that calls to mind Fourth of July fireworks. Another common name is "honey-bells," and this tells you about another critter that finds the plant irresistible: if you watch C. occidentalis in bloom for any length of time, you'll spot a steady stream of bees paying each nectar-rich flower a visit. The local hymenopterans know a good deal when they find one.