I love the botanical name Amoreuxia. I think it may be the “euxia” part that feels so pleasant to say. And the specific epithet palmatifida is pretty nice too in that it is self explanatory. Something on this plant looks like a hand and it’s the leaves. There are two species of Amoreuxia found in the borderlands and we are the northern most range of both species that range south into Mexico.
Look for Amoruexia blooming in July and August on rocky slopes between 3,500 feet and 5,000 feet. Yeah, it’s going to be hot, but well worth the hike. And the good news is that if you miss the bloom period you will still find the dreamy seed capsules that follow the flowers.
A couple notes: somewhere I have photos of the flowers and the dreamy seed capsules, but I seem to store my digital photos the same way I used to store my slides, all mixed up. I do apologize. There are some nice photos on line if you google the plant or even better, plan a hot muggy hike for next summer on nearby rocky slopes. You won’t regret it.
Eumorpha typhon or the typhon sphinx moth is out and about gathering nectar and sharing pollen from June to August in the borderlands. I...
When I used to give talks I would always show photos and talk about our regional yucca species; Yucca elata, Y. baccata and Yucca...
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