Yesterday, was a good day for Jeanne and I to go check on the first flower of the winter. Ok, it might not be the first flower that has bloomed. But certainly is the first special Shirley flower of a new year.
Bigroot Cymopterus (Vesper macrorhizus syn. Cymopterus macrorhizus)! This location was the first time I remember seeing the plant with Shirley. And this was one of the first outings to hit each new year with Shirley. The location is the NCTC campus in Gainesville. The grass is mowed quite short, yet the plants seemed be thriving here. In other locations like the grasslands, the plant can reach up to twelve inches tall.
A member of the Apiaceae family. The Black Swallowtail uses many plants in this family. However, I have never seen any cats on it. On occasion, I will see ants.
Purple anthers!
A umbrel that was less developed.
Leaves are crowded at the base. So a place to search for this species will be rocky limestone prairies.
Just starting!
So this one I just like the X shape of the leaves.
Shirley would love these closeups!
The Shirley plants are an emotional connection. We can almost hear her voice when we see them. It warms my heart and makes me smile.
So true! I think of the new people on the native plant scene who never knew her and how they missed a jewel. I can only hope that those of us, including her son and granddaughter, share some of what we all learned from her. I can still hear Shirley’s voice on the phone when she would call me to tell me about something she saw that I needed to go see. Such enthusiasm.
The closeups are gorgeous! So exciting that they are already in bloom!
Thank you 🙂
Shirley would love these closeups!
The Shirley plants are an emotional connection. We can almost hear her voice when we see them. It warms my heart and makes me smile.
I can not help but think of Shirley when I see her special plants and their places. And when new plants are discovered I see her smiling. 🙂
So true! I think of the new people on the native plant scene who never knew her and how they missed a jewel. I can only hope that those of us, including her son and granddaughter, share some of what we all learned from her. I can still hear Shirley’s voice on the phone when she would call me to tell me about something she saw that I needed to go see. Such enthusiasm.
We were indeed very lucky to have the honor to have known Shirley.