One compact bud that would someday become a flower. They bloom from spring to summer. This plant was in partial shade so will bloom more towards summer.

When viewed up close, even these tight little balls can look monstrous and evil.

Each plant can produce dozens of hard ball-like buds. Because these buds, and the flowers that follow, are so heavy, the plant needs support to stand up.

Here, several buds illustrate the stages of transformation. A small compact ball becomes al larger ball, and that larger ball begins to elongate to later become a flower.

One of the ball-like buds was dangerously close to blooming into a flower.