First kudos to Alan (Shirley’s son) and all the presenters at the zoom presentation at the zoom Armchair Botany: Women Documenting the Floras of Texas and Oklahoma! The women botanists were amazing scientists! When I find out where you can watch the recording I will post the information in case you missed it.
It does not always take beautiful clouds at sunrise for me to be in awe. Gracie’s walk was earlier than usual so I could have some time in the field before making it back to watch the zoom presentation.
Crazy looking twisted Arkansas Yucca was the first photo on the grasslands!
On a small milkweed (Asclepias) an empty chrysalis! I sorta think it might be a Common Buckeye. It looks similar at least.
The Eryngo (Eryngium leavenworthii) was short but was backlit with the morning sun!
Now for the small stuff…Gumweed (Grindelia ciliata). We were in an area where the soil was thin and probably has not gotten much rain?
Many of the False Gaura fits the small stuff description!
On the hillside, a small Eryngo! The above Eryngo was at the bottom of the hill where the soil would have been deeper.
Many of the gayfeathers were also short unlike mine at home. Soil type and rain makes a big difference, eh.
A small beetle was chowing down on a Prickly Pear tuna!
A Brunner’s Mantis ootheca! The “tail” in the air is a key characteristic.
Finally, a Reakirt’s Blue on a Black Dalea (Dalea frutescens)!
Wonder why the yucca is twisted. Those are really small flowering plants.
Both firefly links were really helpful! I put the first, shorter one on the gardening chat at work.
Neat! Spread the word!