Tom OderGardening & Writing

Photo Gallery

From My Garden

A visual celebration of plants, pollinators and the beauty of Southeast gardening.

All photos: © 2026 Tom Oder and cannot be re-published in any form without permission.

Sun garden panoramic view with lush borders and colorful plantings

An unidentified insect on orange milkweed Asclepias tuberosa in bloom — An unidentified insect (which I did not see when I took the photo) on an orange milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa). (June 2026)

Bumblebee foraging on lavender bee balm Monarda wild bergamot — A bumblebee forages on a lavender bee balm (Monarda), also called wild bergamot. (June 2026)

Bumblebee foraging on a woodland sunflower Helianthus decapetalus — A bumblebee forages on a woodland sunflower believed to be Helianthus decapetalus. (July 2025)

Two black thin-waisted wasps mating on a yellow green coneflower — Black thin-waisted wasps (family Sphecidae) mate on a green cone flower. (July 2025)

Phlox paniculata Robert Poore with vivid magenta-pink flower clusters — Phlox paniculata 'Robert Poore.' (June 2026)

Sleeping bumblebee resting on a lace cap hydrangea bloom — A sleeping bumblebee on a lace cap hydrangea. When bees sleep like this they are not drunk on nectar, but exhausted from foraging. (June 2026)

Miniature rose Bees Knees with golden yellow and orange blooms — Miniature rose Bees Knees. (June 2026)

White coneflower Echinacea purpurea with white petals and green center — White cone flower (Echinacea purpurea). (June 2026)

Rose Topolina ground cover rose with open pink flowers and yellow centers — Rose Topolina, a ground cover rose with open flowers that attracts pollinators. (June 2026)

Rose Topolina with a bumblebee — Rose Topolina, with a bumblebee. (June 2026)

David Austin rose Golden Celebration, a large golden-apricot cupped bloom — The David Austin rose Golden Celebration. (June 2026)

Gemini hybrid tea rose, a large pink and cream bloom with red center — Gemini is a hybrid tea rose that won the American Rose Society's prestigious All-America Rose Selections award in 2000. (June 2026)

Rocket rose, a deep red hybrid tea rose bloom against dark green leaves — The rose Rocket by the breeder Stephen Roussell in Lake Charles, La. (April 2026)

Viking Queen climbing rose, a large soft pink bloom with a bud, growing on a mailbox — The climbing rose Viking Queen growing on a mailbox. (April 2026)

Purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea in bloom with buds — Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), a drought-tolerant, deer-resistant native perennial. (June 2026)

Gulf fritillary butterfly sipping nectar from butterfly weed — A Gulf fritillary sips nectar from butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa). (July 2024)

Indian pink Spigelia marilandica native woodland wildflower with red tubular flowers — Indian pink (Spigelia marilandica) is a native woodland wildflower that thrives in shade and attracts hummingbirds. (May 2025)

Bumblebee on swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata — A bumblebee on a leek that has gone to flower. (May 2025)

Four-toothed mason wasp feeding on a green-headed coneflower — A four-toothed mason wasp feeds on a green-headed coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata). (July 2024)

Fiery skipper resting on Rudbeckia laciniata green-headed coneflower — A fiery skipper rests on Rudbeckia laciniata. (July 2024)

Bumblebee on green-headed coneflower Rudbeckia laciniata — Bumble bee on green coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata). (July 2024)

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly feeding on a panicle-flowered hydrangea — An Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) feeds on a panicle-flowered hydrangea. (June 2025)

Bumblebee on swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata — Bumblebee on swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata). (September 2025)

Hydrangea Macrophylla Amethyst pink blooms in a pot — Hydrangea Macrophylla 'Amethyst' stays small and does well in a large pot. (June 2026)

Oakleaf hydrangea Snow Queen covered in white blooms weighted down by rain — The native Hydrangea quercifolia Snow Queen, weighted down here by recent rains, is a profuse bloomer. (June 2026)

Bumble bee sipping nectar on the climbing rose Clair Matin — Bumble bee sips nectar on the climbing rose Clair Matin. (June 2025)

Hydrangea Macrophylla Nikko Blue large round blue mophead flowers — Hydrangea Macrophylla Nikko Blue is known for its large round blue mophead flowers. (June 2026)

Moonstone hybrid tea rose with creamy white petals and pink center — Moonstone, a hybrid tea rose. (June 2026)

Penelope Lively English shrub rose from David Austin with deep pink blooms — Penelope Lively, an English shrub rose from David Austin. (June 2026)

Miniature rose Erin Alonso with soft yellow and cream petals — The miniature rose Erin Alonso. (June 2026)

French Lace floribunda rose with ivory-white blossoms and subtle apricot undertones covered in raindrops — French Lace, a floribunda rose that features ivory-white blossoms with subtle apricot undertones. (June 2026)

Edgeworthia chrysantha Chinese paperbush with clusters of golden yellow tubular flowers — Edgeworthia chrysantha, known as the Chinese paperbush because it has been traditionally used to make paper. It blooms around Valentine's Day and is highly fragrant. (February 2026)

Saffron crocus Crocus sativus in bloom with vivid purple petals and bright red stigmas — The fall blooming saffron crocus (Crocus sativus) easily grows in a sunny spot. The bright orange-red stigma, or female portion, of the flower is what is used for the saffron spice. Harvest the entire flower. That will not kill the plant. (Photo: Tom Oder)

Lemon Zest landscape shrub rose with a bright yellow bloom and orange center — Lemon Zest blooming on a young and still small landscape/shrub rose. (June 2026)

Hydrangea Limelight with large chartreuse panicles blooming against a brick wall — This is, I believe, Hydrangea Limelight. It's the first time since I planted it five years ago I have seen it flower — the deer have always eaten the buds before the panicles could bloom. (June 2026)

Bumblebee foraging on orange milkweed Asclepias tuberosa with pollen grains visible on its leg — A bumblebee forages for nectar on orange milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa). Note the grains of pollen on its leg. (June 2026)

Garden Videos

A bumblebee forages on a native clematis. (June 2026)