Viola missouriensis - Violet - click image for detail
A volunteer that appeared in my yard last year, blooming again.
Viola missouriensis – Violet
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Gulf Fritillary – Agraulis vanillae
Gulf Fritillary Agraulis vanillae - click for larger image
This butterfly is probably a little far north than it should be in January. Perched here on Gregg Dalea, either to allow its wings to dry, or to feed on the few blossoms it found. It stayed still the whole time I was taking pictures of it and the Dalea greggii, so my guess is the former. The passion flower vines that it usually feeds on are dead and I recently cut them back so as to keep the HOA happy with appearances…
Dalea greggii – Gregg dalea
Dalea greggii - Gregg dalea
This is the tiny bloom of the Gregg dalea. It usually blooms May through September, but this has been a strange year for plants.
Dalea greggii – Gregg’s Dalea
Dalea greggii - Gregg's Dalea - click image for larger size
Went out to take a picture of the Gregg’s Dalea and found this Gulf Fritillary butterfly warming its wings in the afternoon sun. This ground cover has small purple flowers that I’ll post in the future.
Monarda citriodora – Horsemint
Horsemint - click image for detail
This remnant of a native plant retains its unique form even though the blooms have long since faded.
Solanum elaeagnifolium – Silverleaf Nightshade fruit
Solanum elaeagnifolium - Silverleaf Nightshade fruit - click image for detail
Amongst the bastard cabbage (invasive non-native) out in the field at the planned Blackland Heritage County Park were plenty of Silverleaf Nightshade remnants, adding a bright yellow accent to the green of the grass. Their distinctive blue to purple flowers won’t show up until April and should last through September or thereabouts.
Sonchus sp. – Sow Thistle
Sonchus sp. - Sow Thistle - click image for detail
Sow-Thistle grows from 1/2 to 2 ft. high. Originally introduced from Europe.
Photo taken at the future Blackland Heritage County Park site in Williamson County. This weed blossoms throughout the year, and is an annual rather than a perennial
Lamium amplexicaule part II
Lamium amplexicaule (click image for detail)
A closer look at the previous weed posting.
Lamium amplexicaule
I rarely use an actual “weed” as a photo subject, since one of my slogans is “May all your weeds be wildflowers” and I don’t want to encourage the “wrong sort” of flowers. But it is raining and I have an excuse for not doing any hand weeding, so I took a picture of what is commonly known as Henbit. It’s a member of the mint family and is rather more attractive than St. Augustine or Bermuda grass, but that won’t help it escape being considered a noxious weed among the turf grasses. Oh well…
Lamium amplexicaule - Henbit (Click for detail)
late bloomer
Although most of the Turks Cap have lost their greenery, this twig next to the house seems to find it still warm enough to be sending out the solitary bud, which is slowly but surely opening. Will try to track its progress from bud to bloom.
Malvaviscus Arboreus - Turks Cap (click for detail)
bob's brain: living well with a movement disorder and other comorbidities 