147. Pearly Everlasting

This week has given us a new appreciation for this plant and its role in our garden and the ecosystem.  We have several clumps planted behind the bench by the pond and we were sitting on the bench after dinner when Leah grabbed her camera and started shooting insects visiting the white flowers.  Dozens and dozens of insects has their faces buried in the centre of the Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea) flowers, including Carrot Wasps,  Helictid bees, Bumble Bees, several species of beetles, flies, Paper Wasps, Potter Wasps, butterflies, the list went on and on....and the same the next time with yet more species being added.  So, depending on our ability to identify this bounty, you can expect to see some photos of cool insects on the distinctive papery white flowers of this plant in future posts.

Pearly Everlasting is in the daisy family, and its flowers are good "everlastings", easily cut and dried for bouquets.  The white flowers gleam in a summers evening, and its easy to see why one of the other common names is Moonshine.  

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