Stars, they come and go
Click for greater size and clarity.
When Texas yellow star, Lindheimera texana, goes to seed and dries out, it leaves behind “starry” remains that look like those of no other sunflower family relative in our area, as today’s photograph makes clear.
————
The daily (and occasionally twice daily) posts that you’ve become accustomed to will continue while I’m away from Austin. Feel free to comment if you’d like, but please be aware that it may be a while before I can respond.
© 2012 Steven Schwartzman
Portraits of Wildflowers 
The flowers were lovely, but the seedheads are even lovelier.
Cathy
June 25, 2012 at 1:03 PM
Definitely more distinctive than the DYC (darned yellow composite) of the flower heads.
Steve Schwartzman
June 25, 2012 at 4:02 PM
Just goes to show that every stage of life has its own truth and beauty. Many thanks for not overlooking what comes AFTER beauty.
snowbirdpress
June 25, 2012 at 3:45 PM
From time to time I certainly make a point of showing the afterbeauty of our native plants.
Steve Schwartzman
June 25, 2012 at 4:08 PM
You have a beautiful state flower there. Even when it’s dead it’s very pretty!
Finn Holding
June 26, 2012 at 1:21 PM
Yes, many dead wildflowers have intriguing forms. I present them from time to time in this blog but I try not to overdo it.
Steve Schwartzman
June 26, 2012 at 7:39 PM
Personally, I love sepia photos, and I love every bit of sepia that nature provides. Your drying basketflowers are another good example, and the marsh fleabane. To my taste, these are fully as beautiful in this form as when they’re fresh.
shoreacres
June 27, 2012 at 6:17 AM
Good of you to remember those photographs, and to appreciate the toned-down stages of these plants. In the days of chemical photography I sometimes toned photographs in sepia, but now I let nature provide it ready-made.
Steve Schwartzman
June 27, 2012 at 8:54 AM
That’s a natural color? It certainly looks as if it’s been sepia’d, for lack of a better word. Such a curious hue for a flower.
Shannon
July 2, 2012 at 8:45 AM
This is what’s left behind after the flowers fall off and the seeds develop. At the stage shown here, some of the seeds are still attached, while others have fallen.
Steve Schwartzman
July 2, 2012 at 9:17 AM