Clematis pitcheri – Purple leather flower

Back in the corner of our tiny lot, next to the compost bins and under the Diospyros texana, is a gallant vine that until now has shown no intentions of putting out any flowers.

Yesterday was the first day a bud showed up, so maybe it will get some followups as it matures, or other flowers come out. The Texas persimmon mentioned by its scientific name above provides the majority of the foliage in the photo above. but the Clematis leaves can be seen, they’re just much larger and out of focus.

Yesterday, while sitting on the back porch/deck, a titmouse came up to the trellis and started poking its head about. As I fumbled with my camera, I was able to get about four poorly focused or poorly framed shots, so my best guess is that it was a tufted and not aa black crested titmouse. As I tried to follow it around the yard after it left the deck, I took several shots of dubious quality. I was surprised to find that instead of the aforementioned bird, the next best shot was of a Carolina chickadee. Naturally, after the initial excitement of tiny birds flitting about the yard, I was left standing holding the camera without any feathered bipeds in sight, though I could still hear them singing – mostly a mockingbird.

Which I guess is why I mostly stick to plant photos – at least they stand still, more or less, except when the wind blows, or even breathes a whisper across them.