Platanus racemosa
Month: September 2024
just a little bite
Oenothera elata
Oenothera elata (Tall/Hooker’s/Hairy/Western/Marsh Evening Primrose) is a tall biennial native to much of western and central North America, with one or more upright stems bearing a profusion of large bright yellow flowers, 3 in (7 cm) across. I was intrigued to see a bee burrowing deep into the flower’s throat, rather than gathering pollen from the prominent stamens and pistil.
for sister
My sister and I invented Sisters Day a long time ago; we picked a date that was far from any other family commemoration, September 17. Little did we know that both our parents would die in the week prior to our special day, making this time of year a little more somber than celebratory. We considered changing the date, but decided to keep it, in light of the fact that on this day we are extra glad to still have each other.
Happy Sisters Day, Nettie. Can’t wait to see you again in November.
Quercus lobata
Heliotropium curassavicum
Wild heliotrope (a.k.a. seaside heliotrope, salt heliotrope, monkey tail, quail plant) is native to and widely distributed in North and South America, and has naturalized elsewhere. It is sometimes considered a weed.
In California, this perennial herb usually grows in saline or alkaline soils, often in areas near a permanent or temporary source of water. It is often found in disturbed coastal sites.
egret fountain
Egrets? Herons? It’s hard to tell when they’re big and bronze.
not the Big One
This epicentre was about 10 mi/16 km from our place. I haven’t yet experienced a serious earthquake, so I find our tremblors interesting/mildly exciting rather than scary.
Melaleuca nesophila
I spotted a new-to-me Australian native in the grounds of my local university. Showy Honey-Myrtle is endemic to an area near Albany in Western Australia. The Noongar indigenous name is mindiyet.
Melaleuca nesophila is cultivated as an ornamental plant. It grows in full sun to part shade, in sandy or clay loam soils. Once established, it will tolerate extended dry periods as well as coastal conditions. This species is naturalised in some parts of Victoria where it is considered a serious environmental weed, as it replaces the local native plants.
freshly picked
hashiworks 