I originally learned the botanical name of this native plant as Eupatorium greggii, but it is now Conoclinum dissectum. It’s neat that the tribute to Josiah Gregg, an adventurer, explorer, naturalist and plant collector of the early 1800s, is still part of the common name Gregg’s mistflower.

The photos were taken at a marvelous rocky plain near the Dragoon Mountains. It’s an area where I find all sorts of interesting plants and this large stand of Gregg’s mistflower was fabulous. I believe that’s a Painted Lady butterfly visiting the flowers. That’s only one of several species of butterflies seen on the flowers. Oh, and that bouquet on our table lasted several days!
Petey talks about the beautiful desert shrub Simmondsia chinensis, better known as jojoba.
It’s the way that folks at the Bisbee farmers Market say, “Oh, you grow the bellota.” that makes me think of that common name...
I have a bunch of javelina stories, most happier than this one, but listen, I suspect you have stories too. I’ve noticed that if...