Did I mention what a fun day we had on Shirley Lusk Day? Let me just restate, it was great!
Lisa Bellows explained to the group about plans that the Thomsen Foundation were working on. Plus she said they had seen quite a few snakes lately. So watch your step and stay on the mowed paths.
Of course we all leaned over as far as we could to look. LOL.
Another caterpillar. We found so many caterpillars! In fact, each time we stopped to look at one we would see a half dozen more. Sadly there were so many it was hard to not step on a few. 🙁 Most of them were Buckeyes cats.
Several of the Buckeyes were getting into position to pupate like this Buckeye. You can see the white silk attachment point.
A few Variegated Fritillary caterpillars were found.
Multiple color forms of the White-lined Sphinx caterpillars were seen as well. The larvae colors range from black to almost green. This was an in-between color.
The Lusk family were there to honor Shirley legacy!
An Aunt Marie (Shirley’s aunt) yellow Louisiana Iris had been given to the Thomsen Foundation by Shirley! Lisa had planted them in a wet area for soil erosion control.
On the way to the Garnett Preserve a really big Rat Snake brought me to a screeching stop. The snake was not going to move at first.
Searching for the Thurber’s Pilostyles (Pilostyles thurberi) on Black Dalea (Dalea frutescens). It was only last year that I had found it on the Garnett Preserve. Very few people will notice this inconspicuous parasitic plant even many botanists.
So Thurber’s Pilostyles (Pilostyles thurberi) was just starting to show. The plant lives inside the stem of the Black Dalea only showing it brown flowers. The blooms had not opened yet. A cool plant!
Finally an ice cream stop in the finest tradition of a Shirley outing! Shirley knew what was important. 🙂
Indeed what a great day to honor Shirley! And of course many thanks to the Thomsen Foundation!
Keep looking!
The more you know, the more you see and the more you see, the more you know.
Ice cream was from the Forestburg Country Store. Shirley would not eat “ice cream” products like shakes or blizzards from DQ. It was not real dairy she said. 🙂
And Shirley would know dairy growing up on a dairy farm!
I am so glad I got the TF chapter to designate a Shirley Lusk Day and that Mary is the leader of it. Thank you Mary!
Is the Iris native to our area? It’s beautiful.
It is not native to our area. I don’t know if it is in East Texas somewhere, but it is definitely native in Louisiana.
Thank you so much for sharing.
I just love the group photo with the ice creams.
We love you Shirley!
🤗😍
A very fine day! CaterpilIar Crawl, Pilostyles sighting, DQ finale. Amazing!
Ice cream was from the Forestburg Country Store. Shirley would not eat “ice cream” products like shakes or blizzards from DQ. It was not real dairy she said. 🙂
Yikes! My mistake!
It’s ok. 😉 Sometimes when Shirley and I would eat lunch at DQ, I would have a milkshake and I was not admonished 😂😂😂😂😂
Mary, thanks again for another amazing and informative Shirley Day.
You are welcome. I am very happy to honor Shirley’s memory!
And Shirley would know dairy growing up on a dairy farm!
I am so glad I got the TF chapter to designate a Shirley Lusk Day and that Mary is the leader of it. Thank you Mary!
It is my honor!