Lindheimer’s senna flowers and buds
Click for better clarity.
Now that you’ve seen some dry pods and some leaflets of Lindheimer’s senna, Senna lindheimeriana, I suppose it’s only fair to show you what the flowers and buds look like. This photograph is from Great Hills Park on September 6, 2004, a day with a heavily overcast sky, but one against which my eye saw the senna flowers forming a welcomingly bright arc. The date tells you that this species normally blooms from late summer through the fall, though occasionally I’ve seen it flowering in the spring as well.
© 2013 Steven Schwartzman
I love occasions of off season flowering as you’ve described with Lindheimer’s senna in spring. Very pretty plant any time of year though!
Great photo.
SmallHouseBigGarden
February 8, 2013 at 6:24 am
I’m with you when it comes to unexpected flowerings. We had a bunch of them in Austin starting in late 2011, when the drought eased. One I remember was:
http://portraitsofwildflowers.wordpress.com/2011/12/24/april-in-december/
Unexpected bloomings lasted well into 2012, with the final one I saw being in December:
http://portraitsofwildflowers.wordpress.com/2012/12/30/the-expected-on-the-unexpected/
Steve Schwartzman
February 8, 2013 at 6:34 am
I don’t know this plant but its blossoms are quite pretty. A welcome sight for sore eyes on a windy chilly morning. Thank you Steve for posting the picture. This is a really nice photo. You never fail to disappoint with the hard work that I know goes into each and every one of the plants that you seek to photograph for your readers.
petspeopleandlife
February 8, 2013 at 6:58 am
Lindheimer’s senna is common in natural areas in central Texas, including right in my neighborhood. When I photographed this one in the fall of 2004, I never expected that years later I’d have a blog to show it in—nor that within nine months we’d have moved across town and that Great Hills Park would be my neighborhood park.
Steve Schwartzman
February 8, 2013 at 7:22 am
Some things change for the better. I assume your move was for the better. Plant wise and other wise.
Thanks for the reply.
petspeopleandlife
February 8, 2013 at 8:34 am
Yes, the move was definitely for the better. I’m farther from the prairie now, but I’ve enjoyed being a mile inside the Texas Hill Country and having woods and canyons close at hand.
Steve Schwartzman
February 8, 2013 at 8:53 am
I loved the pods, but the flowers really are lovely too. The article on Lindheimer you recommended the other day was interesting – thanks!
Cathy
February 8, 2013 at 8:23 am
You’re welcome, Cathy. I’m glad you enjoyed these flowers and the article about the person they’re named for as well. After the article appeared, someone wrote in to the newspaper saying that more credit should have gone to Mrs. Lindheimer.
So far this year I haven’t found any of these flowers way ahead of their normal season the way I did in 2012, but 2013 is still young and spring is beginning to spring, so we’ll see.
Steve Schwartzman
February 8, 2013 at 8:50 am
Beautiful – brightened my day:)
cravesadventure
February 8, 2013 at 11:00 am
Great, I’m glad it had that effect.
Steve Schwartzman
February 8, 2013 at 11:10 am
Love the intense color, Steve. These blossoms remind me of Kerria, which blooms in the spring here.
composerinthegarden
February 8, 2013 at 7:56 pm
I wasn’t familiar with Kerria, but I looked it up. I’ll agree with you that yellow is such a cheerful color.
Steve Schwartzman
February 8, 2013 at 10:24 pm
The flowers remind me of paloverde – I’m sure many people in the northeast would like to see either one about now.
shoreacres
February 8, 2013 at 9:59 pm
You’re justified in being reminded because paloverde and Lindheimer’s senna are both in the legume family (which is why both produce pods). You’ve anticipated me by mentioning the northeast: stay tuned for the next post.
Steve Schwartzman
February 8, 2013 at 10:29 pm