Tag: Gregg’s mistflower

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.

Monarch migration

On By CarynIn Wildlife

The Monarchs are migrating through Texas. Our Gregg’s mist flower in the front flower bed usually just has Queen butterflies, which look similar to Monarch butterflies. I’ve been spotting more actual Monarchs landing on the purple flower puffs in recent days.

Photo description: Monarch butterfly on a light purple fuzzy bloom of a Gregg’s mist flower (identity confirmed on iNaturalist)

A Texas native, Gregg’s mist flower is a butterfly magnet. When the weather is warm in spring and fall, we have had over a dozen butterflies rise up off the flowers as we walk past. Better than a butterfly pavilion!