Re: Image of the day - 2013

[Hoy]

Hoy

That's one of the reasons that I don't agree
that all P. odoratum's are the same

Roland

D'accord!

[Brian_W]

Greetings,

This is an excellent thread with a lot of plant diversity.

Stanleya tomentosa:  endemic to the Pryor mountains/BigHorn basin desert in south central Montana and adjacent Wyoming.  This species is monocarpic, starting life as a simple rosette of fuzzy blue/green leaves before sending up a solitary inflorescence. 

Flower power:
 




I think this species would look spectacular scattered about in a dryland garden, or even a large rock garden.  In the pryors, they are common on the windswept limestone plateaus, growing among cushions plants.

[McDonough]

Wow, impressive plant!  Brian, just how tall do you estimate that spire is. in that last photo?

[cohan]

Very cool indeed, Brian! Like Mark, I'm curious about the size.. this would be a very interesting plant to try..

[Brian_W]

Greetings,

The height of Stanleya tomentosa varies depending on conditions.  Usually around 3-6 feet tall is average.  The last one is exceptional and would be toward the taller end of the spectrum.  I sent seed of this species to the Denver Botanical Gardens.  I've been told that Mike Bone has a lot of experience propagating Stanleyas. 

A few more:

Seeing this makes me anticipate spring:

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/townsendia/random%20stuff/pasquebeartooth2_zps63690835-1_zpsf7cc82ad.jpg

Ipomopsis spicata var. orchidacea: VERY fragrant flowers

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/townsendia/random%20stuff/038_zps30c0fdb2-1_zps74cb1a04.jpg

Astragalus platytropis: a tiny species with wonderful pods

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/townsendia/random%20stuff/Astragalusplatytropis_zps32d49262-1_zpsa7d34173.jpg

Almost white, with a blush of pink:

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/townsendia/random%20stuff/brt2_zps9be43144-1_zpsa0caaa2b.jpg

A wee little Townsendia spathulata from the Pryors, rabbit dropping in lower left indicates size:
 
http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/townsendia/random%20stuff/Tspathpryors10-1_zps9e1d35bb.jpg

Escobaria vivipara, photo taken in the glaring sun:

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/townsendia/random%20stuff/160_zps414478f7-1_zpsa9f1171b.jpg

Calochortus gunnisonii:

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/townsendia/random%20stuff/085_zps1b33df2e-1_zps2e66fb76.jpg

[Longma]

You really do post the most amazing pictures Brian.  Inspirational,  Thank you!

[cohan]

Another awesome batch! boy, that Townsendia really is tiny!

[Hoy]

Really exiting pictures (and plants of course), Brian!

[Brian_W]

Glad you like the photos.  Here are a few more.

Oenothera caespitosa worshiping the moon:

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/townsendia/random%20stuff/eveprimrse_zpsec4a8cb6-1_zps1ba5d02a.jpg

Fritillaria atropurpurea, the sunlight makes the flowers glow like lanterns:

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/townsendia/random%20stuff/Fritatropurpurea3-1_zpsc7664d74.jpg

Astragalus hyalinus in the Pryors:

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/townsendia/random%20stuff/110_zps353b636d-1_zps1bac788a.jpg

Gentiana affinis, a common late-blooming woodland species:

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/townsendia/random%20stuff/gentian2_zps39dacd8a-1_zps2e068960.jpg

Castilleja angustifolia in the sun:

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/townsendia/random%20stuff/paintsun_zps335bd2d1-1_zps1112985c.jpg

...and in the rain:

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/townsendia/random%20stuff/Indianpaintbrushrain_zpsbe7a3142-1_zps1e1fff2b.jpg

Stuck in the nectar tube of Oenothera caespitosa:

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/townsendia/random%20stuff/finedining_zpsc48a2949-1_zps5d32815d.jpg

Free at last!

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/townsendia/random%20stuff/finedining2_zpsf9949017-1_zpsac1aa651.jpg

Townsendia spathulata 'cottonball form' at its fuzzy best:

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/townsendia/random%20stuff/cottonball47-4-12-1_zps98f879f8.jpg

[Weiser]

Glorious photos Brian, Well done!! Give yourself a pat on the back for me!!

Pulsatilla patens the harbinger of spring on the Northern Great Plains!! Brings back lots of good memories!

Is Ipomopsis spicata biannual or perennial?

[Brian_W]

John,

From what I've observed, Ipomopsis spicata var. spicata is perennial and var. orchidacea is biannual.  Both are attractive plants, but I really like the long, tangled hairs on the stem and leaves of var. orchidacea.  

Brian

[Brian_W]

Kelseya floral explosion  

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/townsendia/random%20stuff/Kelseyaandbutterfly-1_zps33776f0f.jpg

Wyethia scabra, a plant from the deserts of the southwest, but a population has found a home in the red soils of the pryor mountains, having migrated north through the basin of central Wyoming.  I'll admit a certain fondness for these disheveled beauties:
 


http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/townsendia/random%20stuff/wyethia2_zpsa15c5f31-1_zpsda2e6391.jpg

Penstemon nitidus in a jumble of boulders:

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/townsendia/random%20stuff/rockgardenpryors_zpscb2addc2-1_zpsda95d900.jpg

Another prickly poppy:

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/townsendia/random%20stuff/Pricklypoppy2_zpsc55ad234-1_zps4fc24c90.jpg

Castilleja angustifolia:

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/townsendia/random%20stuff/341_zps5b783cae-1_zps95f6adf3.jpg

[Tim Ingram]

Really great photos! I just want to work out how to transpose a little of the Pryor Mountains into my garden! A very large sand bed in the middle of the lawn? I need to reduce the rainfall by half and increase the light intensity and summer temperatures by 10°C - a glass covered bed might do it?

[Weiser]

Penstemon nitidus in the early spring is always a welcome sight. I love the clear blue against the gray of the foliage. I am happy to say it seeds around for me and is long lived were it's roots can reach a touch of extra moisture, from a near by drip emitter.    

Kelseya how wonderful is that!!   Excuse me for a minute while I wipe the drool from my chin. There that's better.    Your photos of it always get my heart racing. Are you ever able to collect seed or have you ever tried cuttings. The way it clings to the cliff walls is extraordinary, seems to defy gravity!!

And to top it all off, there's a photo of a very nice pink Castilleja angustifolia. I think the syn. is Castilleja chromosa any way that is what we call it. I have encountered pink ones before but we see more fiery reds, bright oranges and lemon yellows

[Todd Boland]

I was in the Bighorns this past July but didn't see anything like that Stanleya..impressive!  I was impressed enough with the Frasera.