5.17.2007

Wallowing in Wildflowers

It seems like life has been just plain hectic around here! Gramma's House has slipped way down on the list of priorities because so many other things are demanding immediate attention... like the gardens.

I will finally be planting the last area this weekend. This may not seem unreasonable to many folks in cooler regions, but it is very late for here. My corn, usually about a foot tall by now, is just breaking ground.


The weather is so odd this year that getting such a late start may be a good thing. It was chilly, foggy and misty all day and felt like typical late fall weather.


One advantage to all the dampness and cooler temperatures is that we have had an amazing display of wildflowers! I have found some rare beauties and the old standbys have outdone themselves. The cactus bloom you see at the top is one example. It is a Redeye Prickly Pear (Opuntia violacea). To the left is a lovely morning bloomer normally found much further north, Yellow Salsify (Tragopogon dubius). This is the first time I have seen them in abundance in this area.



With such a bounty of photographic opportunities, I have been thinking of compiling a wildflower identification book! Heavens knows, I have hundreds of pictures. Now all I need is a qualified area naturalist with which to collaborate. I have been appalled at the lack of good cross-referencing available when trying to pin down some of the varieties. Some of the medicinal plants are easy enough, but the names I know them by are rarely considered the “common” name and have been impossible to tag properly. Being an illustrator and having been bitten by the camera bug, these difficulties make me want to design a reference book I would enjoy using myself! Any Big Bend area naturalist types up for a challenge?

This last photo is Southwestern Paintbrush (Castilleja integra), commonly known as Indian Paintbrush. These have been competing with the meadows of Texas Bluebonnets for the award for sheer numbers and robust color.

I am hoping to get a number of posting up across all my pages very soon. Several gardening articles are in the works as are some crafts projects for the kids. I will also try to add a few of the medicinal uses for a few of the wildflowers that are in bloom. Most of these should be gathered later in the season, but now is the easiest time to identify and mark where they are growing.
Until then, light hearts to you all!