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Wednesday, May 8, 2013

THERE'S A BRIGHT GOLDEN HAZE ON THE MEADOW

I call this our meadow. An area above the house which has relatively few obnoxious invaders, unlike our septic field.


I don't even know what this carpet of flowers is, except that it belongs to the Asteraceae family of which there are so many members. It is too common to appear in my wildflower books.


There are also large stands of prickly pear cactus. There used to be more but before we bought the lot someone came along and stripped a whole area to put in their garden! I heard this from my neighbor.


There is always incredible activity inside the flowers. These same beetles show up ever year wallowing in the pollen. Their activity will mean plenty of tuna in the fall. That is another thing that disappears overnight and I don't think it is the deer!


There never was a more fascinating flower than the antelope horns milkweed, Asclepias asperula. I must go up there when the seed pods form as their resemblance to antelope horns gives them their name.


The Mexican hats, Ratibida columnaris are beginning to flower. Summer must be on the way.




The native Texas mullein, Verbascum thapsus, will soon send a shoot with pretty yellow flowers but I will be careful to remove the seed heads. I don't need a field of triffids.


The retamas, Parkinsonia aculeata, are having a tough year. Although this branch has healthy blooms the lack of rain has taken its toll by producing smaller flowers than usual. Everywhere is bone dry and yet all these plants have flowered with the minimum of rainfall. Way to go Texas natives.



9 comments:

  1. You have a lot going on, in your meadow.

    We have some of the same things here. But, no blooms yet. Everything around here is way behind other areas. Guess it's this crazy weather.

    Hope your back is getting better.

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  2. Your meadow is so pretty. I've planted antelope horns milkweed seed this year but haven't seen any plants yet. We must have had more rain in San Antonio as we are not as dry. Those natives are so important when we do have drought.

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  3. I have that mullein growing, but wasn't sure of its identification. Thanks for that! Your wildflowers are lovely!

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  4. The yellow field is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!! Great photos!!!! Hope your back is on the mend.

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  5. Beautiful meadow! I wondered why antelope horns were called that; I'll have to keep an eye out for the seedpods. On retamas: I was in Palm Springs a few weeks ago, and they were blooming like crazy in that desert setting. They lined the hotel parking lot, and our car was constantly covered in the sunniest yellow blossom confetti.

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  6. I am in love with the mulleins. I have three and anticipate blooms next year. Your yellow meadow sure is pretty.

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  7. Gorgeous photos, as always. I love the antelope horns too. Couldn't get them to grow from seed but the ones that occur naturally in our yard do fine.

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  8. Beautiful meadow Jenny and I'm a mullein fan as well. I was able to dig one up on a friends place and transplant it to my garden and it is looking great.

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  9. Love your meadow. And I didn't know V. thapsus was a Texas native!

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