The sights are always great on top. However with this heat in the sun we only stayed there about an hour.
A view to the north!
A great summer plant, Leavenworth’s Eryngo (Eryngium leavenworthii) was on top! Soon its inflorescences will be turning purple! The purple pineapple!
True bugs nymphs was fighting for positions at the top.
A few Whitlow Wort (Paronychia virginica) were starting to bloom! Amazing how some plants can survive this heat and the lack of water.
A small empty chrysalis on Greenthread (Thelesperma filifolium) still attached. It is possibly a Dainty Sulphur’s I reckoned from the size.
Which came first? I suspect that the original name was Ball Knob and not Bald Knob as the survey marker says on top the mesa. Maybe a typo? And my reasoning is that the nearby cemetery name is Ball Knob. It has older grave tombstones. The earliest date I saw was 1862 was for Robert Edwards. The website also says the land was originally owned by James Ball, Sr. In 1890 the cemetery was deeded to the Audubon community.
It was getting hot on top the mesa so down we went.
The Dogweed (Dysodiopsis tagetoides) glands on the phyllaries are highlighted the dead top.
A cute little jumping spider (Salticidae) was waving bye. However it may have been saying scram.
Well we done with the walking part of the day. So to the car we went.
Yes about Ball Knob. Family name. The knob like many other places had slip ups. Another is Red Door unit that is mistakenly labeled Red Deer.
I am so excited. 5 years ago I brought the purple eryngo seed from north TX to our farm and scattered it outside our fence along the road. In all this drought I found 2 plants the other day. Like you said, it is amazing how some species just do their thing regardless of lack of rain.
I remember the Whitlow Wort at Legacy had the prettiest red and white stems that reminded me of Christmas in summer. I wish i could have transplanted some to here but it all grew in the rock.
I learned it from a national grasslands employee who was in charge of managing land use like impact of cattle on the units. She was there maybe late 90’s or early 2000’s and I am blank trying to recall her name. Oh wait I found it. Judith Dyess. She and her husband both worked, he was in charge of burns back then. I don’t remember the origin of the name but am making an assumption there was a house with a red door at one time. I believe it was back to the left towards the archery range but not there anymore.
I learned a lot from her and I taught her the local natives since she was from Wyoming and could get to genus. Just happens she had a horse she used to monitor the areas and explore treasures so we rode together off trail to find these neat things. This goes even further back than my meeting Mary!
One of the plants we sought out were shooting stars and another was hybrids of Baptisia species.
I remember you telling me about your fun times with Judith. And interesting story about the Red Door. And now the Red Deer is gone to as the archery place is no more as well.
I remember Judith Dyess. I think I met her either through Native Prairies Assn or Society for Ecological Restoration. I also remember Alfred Sanchez and David Weldon. Thanks for all the info, Kathy!
I think you are right about Ball Knob being the first and correct name for bald knob.
Yes about Ball Knob. Family name. The knob like many other places had slip ups. Another is Red Door unit that is mistakenly labeled Red Deer.
I am so excited. 5 years ago I brought the purple eryngo seed from north TX to our farm and scattered it outside our fence along the road. In all this drought I found 2 plants the other day. Like you said, it is amazing how some species just do their thing regardless of lack of rain.
I remember the Whitlow Wort at Legacy had the prettiest red and white stems that reminded me of Christmas in summer. I wish i could have transplanted some to here but it all grew in the rock.
I never heard that Red Deer is supposed to be Red Door. Interesting! Do you know the meaning behind that name?
I learned it from a national grasslands employee who was in charge of managing land use like impact of cattle on the units. She was there maybe late 90’s or early 2000’s and I am blank trying to recall her name. Oh wait I found it. Judith Dyess. She and her husband both worked, he was in charge of burns back then. I don’t remember the origin of the name but am making an assumption there was a house with a red door at one time. I believe it was back to the left towards the archery range but not there anymore.
I learned a lot from her and I taught her the local natives since she was from Wyoming and could get to genus. Just happens she had a horse she used to monitor the areas and explore treasures so we rode together off trail to find these neat things. This goes even further back than my meeting Mary!
One of the plants we sought out were shooting stars and another was hybrids of Baptisia species.
I remember you telling me about your fun times with Judith. And interesting story about the Red Door. And now the Red Deer is gone to as the archery place is no more as well.
I remember Judith Dyess. I think I met her either through Native Prairies Assn or Society for Ecological Restoration. I also remember Alfred Sanchez and David Weldon. Thanks for all the info, Kathy!
The Whitlow Wort here at home grows in the clay loam.
Such treasures even at peak summer!
I’ll be searching for whitlow-wort on our next ramble!