Jeanne asked me how Shirley found these specific spots. Regretfully, I never thought to ask or I have forgotten. I do know that she often went exploring like Jeanne and I do now. In addition, sometimes people would tell her about unusual plants that they had, had seen, or needed identified. In fact, that is how Shirley and Hugh Garnett met at conference over unusual plants at his place.
Ok, I just thought this big olde rock was cool with the little toe/step holes. 😉 Full disclosure, it was the second stop. Now on to the third stop!
First flower was this Mistflower (Conoclinium)! This stop used to have a spring that overflowed into the road ditch. Before Shirley started to take me there, the landowners had built a pond. Now the ditch is not near as wet as it once was according to Shirley.
Still it has some cool plants like this Loosestrife (Lythrum)!
A close up of the above Loosestrife’s flowers.
The thistle was still looking mighty good!
This American Bumble Bee and other bees were most appreciative!
We did not see any insects on the willow, but certainly was evident they had been there. LOL.
The Groundnut or American Potato-bean (Apios americana) is always a pleasure to see. This plant was one that Shirley had told me about that was at this stop. However, it took several years before I was able to re-located it.
The Groundnut often climbs high into the trees. Here Jeanne spotted the flowers and pulled the vine down for photos.
It was a great grouping!
The last flower of the stop, a thistle shown brightly in the sunshine!
Just below the flower, were two sharpshooters. A hard species to photography because of their tendency to retreat to the opposite side of a stem or leaf. This first one is the Speckled Sharpshooter (Paraulacizes irrorata)!
The second and more colorful was the Broad-headed Sharpshooter (Oncometopia orbona). Very lovely indeed!
I only recall seeing the groundnut in two places. This one and one on a unit on the LBJ NG. I don’t believe you were with us at either place. But then again I don’t recall every trip LOL. However, there is another similar colored flower, Round-leaf Scurf-pea (Psoralea rhombifolia) that you might have been with me. It trails on the ground unlike the groundnut. Nevertheless, it is a great flower and glad you have seen it too!
Thistles are one of my favorite blooms. Seems almost every one has some bug or bee on it. Always fun to look. Very nice photo.
How about some thistles for your yard?
Sharpshooter / what a great name!
What a great day! I just planted a bunch of thistle from your house 🤞🤞
Good luck 🤞🤞!!!
What pretty flowers the groundnut has! I think we’ve found it before on our rambles? The broad-headed sharpshooter is quite striking!
I only recall seeing the groundnut in two places. This one and one on a unit on the LBJ NG. I don’t believe you were with us at either place. But then again I don’t recall every trip LOL. However, there is another similar colored flower, Round-leaf Scurf-pea (Psoralea rhombifolia) that you might have been with me. It trails on the ground unlike the groundnut. Nevertheless, it is a great flower and glad you have seen it too!