Category: photos
Lexington Wildlife Management Area
Back in early June, the Central Chapter of the Oklahoma Native Plant Society took a field trip to the Lexington Wildlife Management Area. With almost 10,000 acres of “natural” areas, this place is a potential treasure for native plant enthusiasts. As a landscape designer in Cleveland county, I’m always on the look out for under utilized plants that do well right here in my neck of the woods. I was glad to explore some place a bit on the fringe of my region. The most interesting areas we found were the prairies that were mainly along the roads. Two of my favorite finds were two “Texas” plants that also make their home here: Bouteloua rigidiseta (Texas Grama) and Nassella leucotricha (Texas Winter Grass). The latter of the two is not documented as growing in Cleveland county. Always cool to find things not listed. Toward the end of our visit we were blessed with a lovely early Summer thunderstorm. The clouds made for a fantastic backdrop and the rain was just right for cooling the small band of intrepid botanical explorers as we headed back to our caravan (and no one was struck by lighting!). In our short trip we barely scratched the surface of what this place may have. We will certainly be going back!
-
- Asclepias tuberosa with visitor
-
- Oenothera speciosa white variant with visitor
-
- Echinacea angustifolia
-
- Indian Plantain field
-
- Arnoglossum plantagineum (Indian Plantain)
-
- Dracopis amplexicaulis (Clasping Coneflower) field
-
- Nassela leucotricha seeds
-
- Tale of two greenthreads
-
- Whitish variant of E. angustifolia
Quartz Mountain
On a recent family trip to Quartz Mountain I took some time out for a little botanizing (of course!). I’m really interested in the “xeric” ferns of western Oklahoma and Quartz Mountain had some awesome examples. The “Star Cloak Fern” was a new one to me and quite striking at that. The Seri people of Sonora used the leaves in a tea to promote fertility and they believed it had “supernatural value”, providing protection to those that carried some in a pouch. It’s rugged gray fronds have a distinct star pattern and curl up when dry. The grey/silver Cheilanthes (probably eatonii) fern that I found also had a rugged and striking appearance. I like all things with gray and silver foliage! I also found what I think to be Pilularia americana (pillwort). These strange ferns have no fronds and look more like grasses or spike rush. I did see what appear to be sorus looking features which lead me to my ID of this. I hope to go back in the summer sometime and see the grasses and forbs in full glory. Overall a very interesting place thats unique features create pockets of cool and somewhat rare plants.
Porch Gardening Article out in Oklahoma Gardener
My porch gardening article in Oklahoma Gardener magazine is hitting the shelves. I took the photos and wrote the article based on the assignment of Life on the Porch: Beat the Heat by Gardening on the Porch. I came up with the concept of the three P’s of porch gardening. Pick up a copy to find out what they are and how to use them.
Neglected Orchid
I got this from someone who had left it for dead outside in the full sun on their patio. I put it on one of the shade tables at our nursery and voila, beautiful blooms a couple of months later!
Late Summer Sights
It’s been a relatively cool August here in central Oklahoma but we haven’t had much in the way of significant rain. Things are a bit dry and dusty, but all in all a nice late Summer time. Here’s some random recent sights from some of our gardens and the region.
Shawnee project coming along.
Eragrostis secundiflora. West Norman near the river. I wrote about this grass in the recent ONPS newsletter.
One of our west Norman gardens
Eriogonum annuum. Norman.
Eriogonum annuum (annual Buckwheat) field west Norman.
Crew leader Jason Davis at the Eco booth for Doug Tallamy’s recent lecture.
Xanthisma texanum (Texas Sleepy Daisy) amongst the grasses at Eco HQ.
August sights
Andropogon gerardii (big bluestem)
New native and drought tolerant bed. 37 species replaced one large Privet.
Flowers of Side Oats Grama grass.
Zuchette rampicante
Natural Yards for Healthy Kids
Cool poster seen at Six Twelve.
Vintage Oklahoma scything
Eco Stickers
We’ve got some new Eco Landscaping bumper stickers available. If interested in showing some Eco love, send a self addressed stamped envelope and we’ll send it back with some stickers. Email adam (at) ecogardenok (dot) com. for our address.
