Sunday Stills: Wildflowers

Well, I spoke too soon--I would be a kid in a candy shop on this challenge if we were not in a severe drought. One of the reasons I moved to this lovely place was the wildflowers. However, our area has had the driest and hottest 22 months ever recorded here since record keeping began in the 1800's. I am more like a kid in the dentist's chair.

Our searing 106 degree plus temps for the last couple of weeks are also breaking new records. Here is a Lady Bird Centaury with a few blossoms left beside my nearly dry spring.

Mostly what I have to show now is dead and dying flowers. As a botanist, it is not uncommon for people to send me envelopes of crunchy vegetable matter. What was it? I call this Forensic Botany. Here we have some spider webs on something from the Primrose family taken over by other insects. Notice how well they blend in--bodies like the dried floral tube and legs like the webs. Hard to tell one from another.

The remains of this Hummingbird Sage look like old party streamers. I like the way the spent red blossoms twist.

Our Spring happens in April so many of our wildflowers have already set seed. This is Illinois Bundleflower. Don't ask me what it's doing in Texas, but it is considered native. I like the way the seeds are attached, sort of like and explosion of brown fireworks. In a bundle. In Illinois.

For examples of wildflowers not fried to a crisp by the sun, visit the talented folks at Sunday Stills.