Photo:Poet's Daffodil near the Tom McCall Reserve. I call it a "lingering gift of our forefathers," because this flower was carried here from Europe in covered wagons. Their homesteads are long gone, but not the gardens. Poet's Daffodil is a "late-bloomer" (mid-May).
"Adventure and courage always heighten one's sense of beauty," posed McCall. (The Poet's Cistern, 518, 2011)
Lore: Narcissus poeticus (Poet's Daffodil, Nargis, Pheasant's Eye, Findern Flower, and Pinkster Lily) was one of the first daffodils to be cultivated, and is frequently identified as the narcissus of ancient times—often associated with the Greek myth of Narcissus. Extremely fragrant, with a ring of petals in pure white and a short corona of light yellow with a distinct reddish edge. Poet's Daffodil is cultivated in Holland and southern France for its essential oil, narcissus oil, one of the most popular fragrances used in perfumes. Narcissus oil is used as a principal ingredient in 11% of modern quality perfumes—including 'Fatale' and 'Samsara'—as a floral concrete or absolute. The oil's fragrance resembles a combination of jasmine and hyacinth.
Photo: You are looking at a Naked Broom Rape wildflower, which is an herbaceous parasite.
Note: This wildflower cannot make chlorophyll, and it is totally dependent on other plants for nutrients. "Broomrape seeds remain dormant in the soil, often for many years, until stimulated to germinate by certain compounds produced by living plant roots. Broomrape seedlings put out a root-like growth, which attaches to the roots of nearby hosts. Once attached to a host, the broomrape robs its host of water and nutrients." (Wikipedia)
Bum: A lazy or shiftless person, especially one who seeks to live solely by the support of others.
Photo: Saxifrage along the Upper McCord Creek trail. This wildflower is about 1/3 the size of a dime.
"The evidence is everywhere," said McCord. (Ontology, 411, 2011)
Photo: Saxifrage at Upper McCord Creek Falls. Again, just about 1/3 the size of a dime.
"Look around," said McCord. "Someone near you is trying to bloom." (Deference, 413, 2011)
Photo: Here's one last look at this tiny saxifrage wildflower. The green background color is the result of rock moss.
"The beauty of the bloom is short-lived," said McCord, "just one fleeting aspect of life." (Time Travelers, 414, 2011)
Photo: Wildflower at Paseo de los Nubes, just outside the Morelia, Michoacan. I do not know what this flower is called, but it has a certain zing.
"Wildflowers are free," said Genero, "priceless, but free." (The Gardner's Window, 407, 2011)
