Today, I had a mission. And lucky for me, Jeanne came with me as well. Recalling a plant that Shirley had told me about years ago, we headed off. This plant, Baptisia sphaerocarpa, is the Frosted Elfin’s host plant. You know, the one I have been looking for over in Fannin County. I had seen the plants blooming in past years but had never stopped before. In years past, the field would be covered in Yellow Wild Indigo. So with my Frosted Elfin survey in mind, I decided it was time to do a cold call in Montague County. 😉 Would anyone be home and what kind of reception would I receive?
However, only one plant blooming could be seen as we drove along the fence. Well, I was met with a slight hesitation, but the property owner was very warm when I explained what I was doing. Furthermore, she said a lady years ago had been there for the same reason. Of course, I wondered if Shirley had been that person.
Like a lasso in the sky a contrail was overhead. The owner warned us about the bucking cows and horses. However, all we saw were horses. No problem we thought.
The two horses started walking towards us. We met up with them. They seemed friendly enough. However, the lighter colored one got a bit too wild. It started kicking wildly by us. Quickly we shooed them away. They kept coming. More shooing. Finally, they backed off.
Then the target plant was reached! With permission from the owner, I got a specimen. However, as I was getting out the paper for pressing, the horses approached us once more. Were they looking for feed? Hastily, we packed up the specimen! Leaving behind the frisky horse, we quickly climbed the fence!
In fact, it seemed safer on the other side of the fence. Binoculars work well for plant hunting. In fact, we found about ten or so more plants.
Next in the right of way, the Loose-flowered Penstemon (Penstemon laxiflorus) were blooming!
Many ranches in the area belong to the Upper Clear Creek Wildlife Management Association. Indeed, this ranch was no exception.
Near the house, we saw this wagon wheel hub. Pretty cool! To sum it up, my cold call was a success! Thank you Dana!
Keep looking!
The more you know, the more you see and the more you see, the more you know.
11 Comments
Sounds like quite an experience being kicked at by horses. If they were bucking stock its easy to understand. Glad you found your plant but did you find larva?
No larva🤷🏻♀️ But we did not hang out there long to look much further. However I doubt there were any because there are so few plants. In addition, I am not sure if the eflins have ever been found this far west.
I know there was a field somewhere that Shirley monitored. It was a man that owned it and she had met him. I just can’t remember even the county that it was in. So many years ago! I will look in my wildflower books and see if I jotted down any notes. The photos would have all been 35 mm days so that would be a tough search since they are boxed away in the climate controlled storage.
Seeing the wagon wheel hub reminded me of my childhood. My dad had found several of the hoops about 1 inch wide and showed us kids the art of wheel rolling. We took a flat stick about 3 feet long and put a short (3-4″) cross piece on the end. Once you got the hoop rolling you could use the stick to push it along or touch one side to get it to turn. I remember spending one summer rolling the hoops around the neighborhood. This was the way kids entertained themselves before cell phone apps.
Sounds like quite an experience being kicked at by horses. If they were bucking stock its easy to understand. Glad you found your plant but did you find larva?
No larva🤷🏻♀️ But we did not hang out there long to look much further. However I doubt there were any because there are so few plants. In addition, I am not sure if the eflins have ever been found this far west.
I know there was a field somewhere that Shirley monitored. It was a man that owned it and she had met him. I just can’t remember even the county that it was in. So many years ago! I will look in my wildflower books and see if I jotted down any notes. The photos would have all been 35 mm days so that would be a tough search since they are boxed away in the climate controlled storage.
Shirley sure did know a lot of people. Thanks for looking. It will be interesting to see where some of those places are.
Well, you had an adventure. The horses were probably just curious.
Curious is fine, but kicking is not…
Us plant people aren’t prepared to deal with wild mammals! Glad you made a good contact with the landowner.
Wild mammals make things difficult. I had some very friendly longhorn cows try to eat and lick my backpack when I was bird banding once.
Got to watch those horns right. Neighbor’s long horns are friendly too.
Seeing the wagon wheel hub reminded me of my childhood. My dad had found several of the hoops about 1 inch wide and showed us kids the art of wheel rolling. We took a flat stick about 3 feet long and put a short (3-4″) cross piece on the end. Once you got the hoop rolling you could use the stick to push it along or touch one side to get it to turn. I remember spending one summer rolling the hoops around the neighborhood. This was the way kids entertained themselves before cell phone apps.
Alan, What a precious memory! I don’t think there will be many kids today with that kind of memory from their childhoods. Thanks for sharing!