 03-14-2006, 9:13 PM
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Bill Purcell
Joined on 06-29-2005
Posts 45
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Have you ever seen "orange" bluebonnets?!?
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I can't begin to express how much fun I've had all winter (and continue to have) watching my bluebonnets grow on a daily basis. Today, I noticed something that I'd never seen before, and something I hadn't read about, either.
I saw what appeared to be some orange-colored pollen on some of the leaves in my planter, and though to myself, "What's that? Where'd that come from?" At lunch today, I realized the answer. On several of my blooms, where nascent petals were beginning to part, a few were adorned with filament-like orange stamens and pistils protruding from within. I realized that it was within those tiny orange things that the pollen was created, and also where the intoxicating aroma of the bluebonnet is likely created. I posted a closeup of one bloom with the visible stamens/pistils to my image host: http://www.imageevent.com/mpurcell/bb2006
I learn something new almost every day with my bluebonnets. Not only do individual plants develop multiple blooms, but individual stalks on each plant develop multiple blooms themselves! When all is said and done, my "prize" bluebonnet will have created 20-25 blooms - all from a single seed! It seems that if conditions are optimal out in the field, one can see almost solid blue coverage yielded from very few actual plants. Amazing.
My first two blooms of the season already have seed pods developing! Not to worry, though, as many more blooms are still forthcoming. I'll post images of the pods, as well as views of the entire planter in full bloom within a day or two. Feel free to check the website regularly.
Take care all,
Bill.
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