Just a Flying Visit

Another gloomy day in Christchurch.. the sun did show its face for a few moments then disappeared.

As I was taking a shot of my Hydrangea this little bug come flying in, had a look around and flew off again. Not sure what kind of bug it is.

Hydrangea's are native to Japan, the Hydrangea macrophylla is a deciduous flowering shrub grown for its copious blossoms. It is commonly known as the bigleaf hydrangea, French hydrangea or florist's hydrangea. This shrub is hardy to 0 degrees Fahrenheit (minus-18 degrees Celsius). There are 23 species of hydrangea, five of which generally are cultivated. The Hydrangea macrophylla is widely cultivated for its generous, rounded growing habit and abundant, colorful flowers.

The Hydrangeas are marsh or aquatic plants, and hence the name is derived from a Greek compound signifying water-vessel. Four of the known species are natives of America; one, the garden Hydrangea (Hydrangea hortensis), is widely cultivated in the gardens of China and Japan. Many methods are employed in this country for imparting the blue tinge to its petals. The oak-leaved Hydrangea (H. quercifolia), a native of Florida, is also cultivated for its beauty.

The bark of Hydrangea arborescens is rough, with a tendency to peel, each layer being of a different colour, from which it has probably derived its name 'Seven Barks.' The roots are of variable length and thickness, having numerous radicles, reaching a diameter of more than half an inch. They are externally pale grey, tough, with splintery fracture; white inside, without odour, having a sweetish, rather pungent taste. When fresh, the root and stalks are very succulent, containing much water, and can easily be cut. When dry, they are tough and resistant, so that they should be bruised or cut into short, transverse sections while fresh. The taste of the bark of the dried root resembles that of cascarilla. The stalks contain a pith which is easily removed, and they are used in some parts of the country for pipe-stems.

The hydrangea has medical uses as well For more information.