Yellow stonecrop on the Llano Uplift
Some flowers of yellow stonecrop (Sedum nuttallianum) appeared in the lower left of yesterday’s second photograph taken in the Llano Uplift on May 6. Because the view was a broad, inclusive one you couldn’t see the flowers well. Now let’s take closer looks at a couple of the many stonecrop groups and colonies that were flowering on the pastel rocks of the Uplift. This first photograph is a downward and rather abstract view that includes pale gray lichens, rust-colored lichens, pink rock, some darker stuff, and two clumps of yellow stonecrop flowers.
And here’s a closer look, also downward, at some yellow stonecrop flowers. I noticed that many depressions and cracks in the rock fostered the growth of stonecrop groups, presumably because of residual moisture in those areas. Each stonecrop flower is about a quarter of an inch (6mm) across.
Note: I’ll be traveling for a while beginning today. Please understand if I’m late replying to your comments.
© 2016 Steven Schwartzman
Sedums are lovely little flowers and an example, in this case, of life finding a foothold in the least accommodating of places.
Steve Gingold
June 2, 2016 at 2:51 PM
That sounds like what we nature photographers sometimes do: find a foothold in the least accommodating of places.
Steve Schwartzman
June 2, 2016 at 6:55 PM
These are as appealing as the mountain pinks, and the rock’s as appealing as the flowers. Given what the Llano river’s been up to recently, the uplift has some advantages, too.
shoreacres
June 3, 2016 at 6:51 AM
You’ve made me realize that I haven’t seen any mountain pinks yet this season. Now that I’m traveling for a while, I may miss them entirely for 2016. (We’re in a drizzly Tulsa this morning.)
Steve Schwartzman
June 3, 2016 at 7:04 AM
I found yellow stonecrop last week, and just as it should, it was blooming on a piece of rocky land. Gosh, they’re tiny! If I hadn’t seen this post, I might not even have noticed them. Now I’m wondering if a green plant I found at the nearby nature center might be sedum, too. It’s common over there on the gravel and asphalt paths, so it could be.
shoreacres
June 17, 2016 at 8:14 PM
This species of stonecrop is green before it’s yellow, so that well may be what you found at the nature center.
Steve Schwartzman
June 18, 2016 at 5:19 AM
Love the close up Steve …
Julie@frogpondfarm
June 3, 2016 at 3:04 PM
At other times I’ve taken even closer pictures of yellow stonecrop flowers.
Steve Schwartzman
June 3, 2016 at 8:20 PM
It never ceases to amaze me where life can thrive 🙂
My Small Surrenders
July 16, 2016 at 10:21 AM
It’s impressive, isn’t it? Two days ago I saw roots of a different plant coming straight out of stone.
Steve Schwartzman
July 16, 2016 at 3:34 PM