Beard Tongue

Flower Friday 17: Penstemon

Back to earth after yesterday's blip, although you could perhaps be forgiven for thinking that you are looking at an alien rather than an earthly flower.  This shot nicely illustrates just why these bell like flowers get their popular name of "beardtongue".  The Bumblebees in the garden, far from being put off by this hairy object, seem rather fond of visiting, so the flower is clearly doing something right.  

The flower does also rather resemble a set of open lips painted in the reddest of lipsticks.  Not sure I would want to kiss them though!