teasel (1 of 2)

[15_the_circle]

[OT from cottage renovations]

take a walk through the field and the teasel is easy to find: the stalks are easily more than 2 m high, towering over the prevailing line of brush top even as it rises in the absence of mowing or cleansing fire. 

their shape and form are fascinating, leading one to wonder whether they inspired the designers of the Jetsons' urban environment.  looking at them, one thing is clear: this is one species that's doing its best to attract airborne pollinators (more on that later). 

what they attracted in today's late afternoon sun was somebody bumbling through the field with camera and tripod.  there's no sound track so let's just agree that had you been within earshot of my encounters with nettle and multiflora rose you would have heard the praises of long trouser cuffs and sturdy fabric.  yeah, that's right, I'm sure that's what I said. 

(click through these thumbnails for higher resolution images)

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upper field

Dipsacus fullonum

Comments

[florentinescot.livejournal.com]

Just gorgeous pictures. I know where some is along I75/I81, but stopping along the interstate isn't necessarily A Good Thing for taking pictures!

[15-the-circle.livejournal.com]

thank you, glad you have enjoyed them. 

I have known people to decide to make an emergency stop to check for suspected mechanical problems ("safety first, you know") on the side of the road in spots that just happen to afford a view of the tracks at just the moment when a train is expected.  it's not the sort of habit one should cultivate, however. 

the whole of the lower field and its adjoining woods is going to be lost to development, including a massive interchange for the extension of Interstate 370 (the segment passing through here is going to be the first one to be built).  there's lots of teasel down in the future right-of-way. 

the upper field is about 20% already destined for residential development; the remainder has a chance to be set aside largely undisturbed as a legacy open space passive recreation facility.  that's not yet a done deal, though, and it has many chances to fail. 

[florentinescot.livejournal.com]

Nods. Safety should always come first! :-D

I hate that development is going to take your field and woods. :-( When is it going to happen? Are there things in there that need to be rescued? The Georgia Native Plant Society is well organized when it comes to rescues for planned developments like that.

I don't know that I'd rescue Teasel, though. Not only have I handled it, but many states consider it a noxious pest. *sigh*

Let's hope that the set-aside holds!

[(Anonymous)]

love these photos! thanks!

bw