The LBJ grasslands pulled me back. And lately, I have been pulled to the barren areas.
The “ear” fossil seemed bigger than the usual. These are quite common on the limestone barrens. Pelecypods are types of mollusks. An “ear” always makes me listen and smile on the barrens!
Jeanne spotted the first orchid (Spiranthes)! We were hoping to find one in bloom now.
Well, we hadn’t walked more than twenty to thirty feet when Jeanne spotted it! This was Great Plains Ladies-tresses (Spiranthes magnicamporum). If the flowers are open as this one was, just smell for its lovely fragrance. The more common Nodding Ladies-tresses (S. cernua) does not have a fragrance. Marilyn wrote a nice article in the latest issue of the Trinity Forks NPSOT chapter newsletter on S. cernua.
Up close the petals have a lacey glass appearance!
Many of the Hall’s Dalea (Dalea hallii) have gone to seed making it even harder to spot!
Rock candy? Nope just a quartz rock. 😉
Further along, we were able to find a blooming Hall’s Dalea! It was a good day to listen to the grasslands!
Awesome sunset and I have my fingers and toes crossed for rain tomorrow. 🙂
The close up of the orchid is stunning. Thanks
Thank you!
The dalea seed fluff is pretty!
Oh wow, I love Spiranthes season!
Maybe with the rain I will find mine at home🤞🏼