Category: Flora

Four-leaf clover

On By CarynIn Flora

I have found a new patch of clover in the front yard that is producing four-leaf varieties. I took two pictures of the same patch, a few days apart. How many can you spot? Swipe left to see the ones I found circled in red.

  • clover leaves
  • clover leaves with red circles
  • patch of clover leaves
  • clover leaves with red circles

When I was photographing the clover patch, I thought I counted eight, but in the photos I can’t switch my perspective and confirm that a fourth leaf is attached or part of a different cluster. I only circled the four-leaf clovers that I was sure of. Still, six in a single patch is a fun find.

P.S. the slideshow function I used for the images apparently only works in a browser. Bummer.

Still blooming

On By CarynIn Flora

This post is to document that my Thanksgiving cactus is still blooming in April.

Photo description: Close up of Thanksgiving cactus blooms

Texas is starting to warm up, which means the window this cactus leans against will warm up, and quit inducing buds. I’ll get to enjoy them for a little longer.

Moss ball

On By CarynIn Flora

Wandering the yard I saw a bright green ball amongst the winter browns. Thinking it was trash or an errant tennis ball, I headed over to pick it up and toss it, but what I found was a nearly spherical ball of moss. Hm.

Photo description: bright green oval of moss sitting on dirt and twigs

Although my purchased mosses in my mossarium are doing OK, my native moss did not like the inside environment, so I left this lovely mossy specimen where it was flourishing.

The importance of dandelions

On By CarynIn Flora

It is February in Texas and the only things blooming are dandelions.

Photo description: common dandelion with a yellow bloom and white seed head in a bed of fallen leaves
Photo description: bee visiting the dandelion flower

We had some warm weather interrupt winter, and the bees came out and sipped from the dandelions. While other yard owners are applying pre-emergents, the bees are feasting in our spring blooms. Dandelions are also edible. Although I have not gone down that path, it is nice to know I could.

Potential local resource

On By CarynIn Craft, Flora, Garden

As I was wandering outside the dead stalks of last season’s Gregg’s Mistflower caught my eye. I love that the plant took over our front flower bed, and the local insects love the flowers that bloom from Spring to Fall. I started clearing the dried stems in preparation for Spring, and wondered if it would make good weaving material.

Photo description: dried Gregg’s Mistflower stems, stripped of leaves

I did an initial test by wrapping some stems in a wet towel. I left them overnight and in the morning tested pliability. They seemed flexible. The next step will be to harvest more and attempt some weaving.

It would be fantastic if my new favorite plant could also be a craft material.