Shooting stars
On the tour, we had a nice view of a female Harrier that sailed across in front of us. That was the bird highlight. We had several Loggerhead Shrikes, meadowlarks, and of course the vultures that day as well.
After the Garnett Preserve, we stopped in to check on another special Shirley plant on the way to the next prairie.
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It was not in bloom, but at least the plant is still there! It is the Large Beardtongue (Penstemon grandiflorus). It right at the road edge where the road crews might grade over it. I collected seeds from it a few years back…you’re welcome Bill F.
A few hundred yards before we reached the Payne Prairie, there is a old road that probably led to an old homestead. Besides these periwinkles on the roadside, there are tulips and daffodils.
We had to look hard to find a few Shooting Stars blooming. They are just starting at the Payne Prairie!
At the Becker Prairie, these Astragalus lotiflorus are the main flowers blooming that day.
But there were a dozen or so Shooting Stars (Dodecatheon meadia) that have started to bloom!
That day was a tough day for getting photos as you can see that the wind was a blowin!
A lot of hand holding! It will be a couple of weeks before it is the peak of the Shooting Stars. This flower was Shirley’s most favorite! It is a beauty!
Indian Paintbrush (Castejilla purpurea) is starting as well.
The yellow Paintbrush (Castilleja var citrina) was there too.
A few daisies (Tetraneuris species) also with their sunshine faces showing at the Becker Prairie!
Just down the road from the Becker Prairie, the Clove Currant (Ribes aureum) was blooming. We were lucky that a few had been spared by the brush cutters because they were next to a big tree. And some were closer to the private fence line.
Close up the long funnels on the Clove Currant. This plant can cause contact dermatitis. Shirley had a story about it; her and Lisa B. both made contact. I have not touched it to see if I’m allergic. I took the word of the expert!
When almost home, on the rocky ranch road, we found the Texas Bluestars (Amsonia ciliata avar texana) blooming!
Keep looking!
Thank you for the Shirley memories!!!!
Including the clove current too.
I didn't know about the contact dermatitis, guess i better check on the one i planted!
I think shooting stars are my favorite too. Never tire of them.
This is a lovely post; lovely tribute to Shirley.