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!
l like the genus name Amoreuxia. I think it may be the “euxia” part that feels so pleasant to say. And the specific epithet...
The scientific name of the ringtail is Bassariscus astutus. It’s in the Procyonidae, the same family as our local borderlands’ critters the raccoons and...
Petey leaves work for the hills after deciding that being there now would be better than being here now.