Mollie the wonder dog and I returned to our land of treasure to search for the elusive Prairie Larkspur seed. Some of my fellow garden bloggers have requested seed and so our work begins. Read about the previous treasure hunt linked here: Recovery.
In a matter of days the vacant lot had changed from a lush cool season grass prairie(vacant lot) of brome grass to a more refined warm season prairie with summer flowering forbs and grasses. The brome grass seed heads have turned to a golden brown with the grey and green foliage of the summer forbs and sub-shrubs.
Catclaw sensitive plant-Mimosa quadrivalvis and Downy Bromegrass-Bromus tectorum.
Amorpha canescens-Leadplant and Downy Bromegrass-Bromus tectorum.
Common milkweed seed.
Foxtail Barley-Hordeum jubatum
Waxy Leave Thistle-Cirsium undulatum
Whoolly Verbena-Verbena stricta(I think)
Whoops! Got a little sidetracked. I found the Prairie Larkspar! I had to review the photos from the previous post to locate the exact location. Original Photos:
There's the plants previously near the brush pile.
A few days later......see it?
It's the dead stick on the left side. ha ha. Nothing, no blooms, and no seedpods. While I was there I noticed a caterpillar. Need to get a photo of that.
Cool, but what's that next to it? A seedpod! I only got one seed. Bummer. Looks like my treasure hunt came up a little short. Guess I'll have to place closer attention next spring. Sorry folks.
You pay a lot of attention when out and about. Hope your seeds that you managed to get work out for you next year.
ReplyDeleteCher Sunray Gardens
I love to take photos of "wild" plants. Hope you get plenty seeds of your Larkspur.
ReplyDeleteGreggo,
ReplyDeleteThe "milkweed' featured is not a milkweed. It is called Dogbane and I think Indian Hemp.
Thanks for sharing that. I just thought it was milkweed as it oozed latex when I picked it.
DeleteBoy, that's a nice little remnant tucked in there, isn't it? So glad you found it! I really like the photos of the catclaw sensitive briar and the leadplant against the browning downy brome - first time I've found a reason to like downy brome!
ReplyDeleteThat would be the only reason to like downy brome, in a photo. lol. That same take I did an inventory of the land and also found some native rushes.
DeleteCool searching...and quite the diversity. Nice to see places without 80% bare ground, but dry air nice, too. That Amorpha canescens is stunning there. One of my favorites though I've never used it, and it grows well when planted in Abq, too.
ReplyDeleteMacro shots of the blooms of lead plant are stunning. I went to the Myriad gardens this past weekend and there were numerous Amorpha plants in wave plantings. But I must say it was somewhat strange to see them used with viburnums and hydrangeas.
DeleteI guess the birds got there before you! Hopefully the pod you gathered will be a successful planting. A nice walk it looks, nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteKnow if I can just keep the chiggers out of my socks.
DeleteLovely photos, especially the thistle and verbena. You sure know your plants. Thanks for labeling them.
ReplyDeleteThat verbena is a very cool plant. I may have to tag those. There is a little group of them.
DeleteBut what a wonderful journey! I enjoyed it very much.
ReplyDeleteI did too. Thanks.
DeleteAwesome pictures. I feel like I got to go on a lovely nature walk! Hope that the pod planting is successful!
ReplyDeleteWe will see. I may have to find some more from a catalog.
DeleteGreggo, great post; very helpful to me, first because I have been worrying about all the lead-plant that I have and now I find out it's a good thing. Second because I've got Indian hemp dogbane and thought it was probably a milkweed.
ReplyDeleteIn return for my education, I'll see if I can find seed on my larkspurs; I've got them, just have to watch for the seed.
Those seeds went quick! I'm amazed you tracked down the stems.
ReplyDeleteI had to use the blooming photo to find the area. I had researched dried plant files on the internet to determine what the stems and foliage looked like. If I hadn't seen the worm I would have missed the large one.
DeleteI too was amazed you found the dried stem. Great eyes on that one. Nice to have a scout with you too.
ReplyDeleteYes my scout keeps me company.
DeleteAren't the seeds available through Prairie Moon? Excellent pix of beautiful wildflowers so are often referred to as weeds. :o)
ReplyDeleteYes Prairie Moon does have seed and bare root.
DeleteI will be posting images of prairie clover bare root plants I planted this spring from PM. They are exceptional.
Greggo, I may have failed, but you may have to grow what I collected to be sure. I went to my larkspurs, like you found a dry stick (the stems were reddish) and no leaves to confirm the plant. I got a bunch of seed, but I'm thinking it was not the right plant; no pods to speak of, just small seed attached to the stems.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, the photos are so beautiful! Your dog must love the meadow. I wish my dogs had a open space like that nearby, unpopulated by too many other dogs. I"m very fond of the thistle and the bromus tectorum. I can see that I need to visit Prairie Moon now :)
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed seeing the natives! Love the prairie larkspur. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThat Verbena shot is amazing! Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos and your impressions of the lot. Sounds like it was a great day!
ReplyDeleteGreat post as usual Greggo, I love the shot of the thistle. Yil be fair put oot yi didnae get yer seed.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great posting It’s exactly what I was looking for. I like your article.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your other commenters, Greg. A great post!! Mollie is so dang cute! That Foxtail barley shot, with the lighting, wowzers. Sorry the seed pods were already gone. Maybe next year.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if you'll be planning a trip back, say in late-winter when the plants are just starting to poke out of the ground--just a thought. :)
Aw, only one seed. Well, I hope you plant it and it makes many more seeds!
ReplyDelete