Still at the Caddo NG. Many of these plants I don’t see very often. And so it is easy for me to forget what I figured out a year or two ago. I feel lucky if I can remember one or two new plants from year to year. 🙂
Jeanne took this photo of a mystery plant. At this point we just knew it would reveal it identity later. 🙂
We headed deeper into the woods with an eye out for interesting treasures. Here we stopped for a moss collection.
I paused at some of the lichens like this ruffly Cladonia species.
Banks of mosses and lichens draw us in like a moth to a flame.
Lichens (Cladonia) and mosses up close!
Mayapples (Podophyllum peltatum) catch catkins from above!
Indeed this exuvia was different with its interesting black color.
Spiderworts (Tradescantia) were scattered throughout the woods. Delightful!
A multi-colored Yellow Passionflower (Passiflora lutea) leaf. It looked different.
However on close inspection we could see that a leaf miner had taken off the top layer of the leaf.
And finally we solved the mystery plant in bloom! It was the Redpurple Beebalm (Monarda russeliana)! Maybe I will remember it for next year. But then again maybe not. LOL.
I knew it! When I saw that first photo I thought of that russeliana monarda because of my years in far eastern OK. Lots of them there. Then I looked at it a second time and third time and started to doubt myself. When I got to the end I was pleased with my memory. It was odd without its petals yet.
Love that ruffly lichen! And thanks for those closeups so we can really appreciate the detail you don’t notice just walking by.
Lichens and mosses really are another world. Maybe i need to live on ice to help my memory😄
I know I should 😂 but I don’t like to be cold🤷🏻♀️
I knew it! When I saw that first photo I thought of that russeliana monarda because of my years in far eastern OK. Lots of them there. Then I looked at it a second time and third time and started to doubt myself. When I got to the end I was pleased with my memory. It was odd without its petals yet.
Love that ruffly lichen! And thanks for those closeups so we can really appreciate the detail you don’t notice just walking by.
Glad your memory is doing well. I wonder about mine🤪
I’m glad you’re having such fun! That monarda is so pretty and interesting.
And the monarda is scattered all about in the woods. Delightful to find each one!