When we arrived the park host came over to check us in. She gave the low down on the rules. Plus a bit about the park and the cemetery. Additionally she also told us to watch out for the dangerous brush pile near the cemetery.
There were snakes and foxes she said. Of course that drew us to the pile even more. LOL.
If you noticed on the above photo there was a little brownish bump at the tail end. James quickly noticed it and ID as being a parasite in the Family Stylopidae (twisted-winged insects). The whole order is parasitic and this family mostly does the wasps and bees. Thanks Claire for the close up.
On another Pyrrhopappus dandelion, we found the Mild Schinia (Schinia mitis). This is the host plant for the moth. Additionally it prefers to mostly be out in the mornings when the flowers are open for business. Smart, eh!
Next we headed into the cemetery that is next to the campgrounds and the brush pile. It had not been mowed recently so we hoped for some different plants.
Spiderworts (Tradescantia) was scattered about.
A couple of the Four-o’-‘clock (Mirabilis) were among the residents.
A single Yellow Passionflower (Passiflora lutea)!
As with most graveyards, there were irises. However in other places we could only recall seeing much taller irises. These seemed shorter than the usual.
Groundsel (Packera) was fairly abundant!
So it appeared to me the ghosts haunt here during the daylight too. 😉
Oh we still didn’t seen the snakes or the foxes at the brush pile. Darn. 🙂 Indeed there is always tomorrow, eh.
The more you know, the more you see and the more you see, the more you know
15 Comments
I can’t read the last words in the line, Till. The. Day. ?? on the tombstone. Ive always thought plants talk. I read about them crying or screaming when cut back in the 60’s. We might not hear them but probably other plants and maybe critters do.
I am so behind on reading the blog and am going backwards to catch up.
How funny for the park host to say that when it was y’all. I too would have been going, oh let’s go see.
Only once but our foxes raised a litter of 5 in a brush pile. We have kept that pile even though it is now inside what will be out yard. Even if they never use it again, it is special.
I can’t read the last words in the line, Till. The. Day. ?? on the tombstone. Ive always thought plants talk. I read about them crying or screaming when cut back in the 60’s. We might not hear them but probably other plants and maybe critters do.
It read ‘until the day break’ 😊
The park host obviously didn’t know who she was dealing with! The irises probably need to be thinned out so they grow taller.
Hmmm, I just thought weird or a different dwarf variety.
I do love prowling through old cemeteries. What a treasure.
Agree!
Maybe the snakes and boxes will come out during the eclipse. Great images in that eclipse article. Fingers crossed gor clear skies!
Oooo yeah that would be exciting. 🤞🏼
Of course, break. Thanks
It was a really nice brush pile!
And you saw it. Shaking in your boots 😂😂
I am so behind on reading the blog and am going backwards to catch up.
How funny for the park host to say that when it was y’all. I too would have been going, oh let’s go see.
Only once but our foxes raised a litter of 5 in a brush pile. We have kept that pile even though it is now inside what will be out yard. Even if they never use it again, it is special.
That would be special. I wondered later how long ago the foxes or snakes were seen there. Who knows and I didn’t ask.
Haha, that brush pile doesn’t deter a naturalist
Exactly!