Native Son
Every Picture Tells a Story
Sitting here on the porch, Willie Nelson crooning and birds chirping under cloudy spring skies, I am supposed to be churning out one of my quasi-educational, native plant articles that blend science and beauty in a way that warms my heart and makes my grandmother proud. Trouble is, May has been such a rich chapter of life — the beauty of springtime, the sustenance of rain, the tragedy of tornadoes, my son’s 20th birthday (and all of the emotions I feel surrounding these things) — how can I narrow my focus enough to make sense of it all? I try to concentrate, but my thoughts ricochet around like a pinball. I finally decide to look at suitable photos first, then write about them.
Well, 700-plus images later, I finally acquiesce and submit to the power and beauty of what Mother Earth has placed before my eyes. I figure she can do more in a few photos than I can in a novel.
Photo 1: Calla lilies grace water’s edge at Chandor Gardens. Photo 2: Brilliant red poppies arise from pinpoint-sized seeds. Photo 3: An American anole graces a solar light. Photo 4: You never know when or where you are going to meet a new friend. Photo 5: The magic of a milkweed blossom….
Photo 6: Indian blanket mesmerizes in a Cresson meadow. Photo 7: Nature’s garden dazzles my eyes and soothes my soul. Photo 8: Engelmann daisies dance with a stone sphere. Photo 9: A Texas-sized welcome to a ranch….
Photo 10: Pallid yucca stretches skyward before opening. Photo 11: Old Plainsman holds the treasure of honey-scented nectar.
Ominous clouds fill the sky over Weatherford.
Fasciated (crested growth) happens rarely, but it is always fascinating, as in these purple coneflowers.
Sensitive briar leaves collapse when touched.
Left photo: Unexpected guests are just one of the perks of writing in the garden. Right photo: And finally, little Noelle Jackson reminds me to savor the moments of spring.
About the author: Steven Chamblee is the chief horticulturist for Chandor Gardens in Weatherford and a regular contributor to Neil Sperry’s GARDENS magazine and e-gardens newsletter. Steven adds these notes:
Come see Chandor Gardens while she wears her glorious spring cloak of blossoms! Go to www.chandorgardens.com for details. Just take I-20 west to exit 409, hang a right, go 2.1 miles and hang a left on Lee Avenue. Head straight 12 blocks and you’re driving in the gates. Call 817-361-1700 for more information.
I can always use another road trip! Let me know if you’d like me to come out and speak to your group sometime. I’m low-maintenance, flexible, and you know I like to go just about anywhere. No city too big; no town too small. Just send me an e-mail at schamblee@weatherfordtx.gov and we’ll work something out.