Poverty weed weighed down by snow
Poverty weed (Baccharis neglecta) has been described as a weak tree, and the recent accumulation of snow forced some to bow low, as you see in these pictures taken west of Morado Circle on January 10th.
© 2021 Steven Schwartzman
Portraits of Wildflowers 
This brought to mind a different image of poverty weed, which was snowy in a different way. The two would make a fun pairing, with the snow in one and snowflake-like seeds in the other.
shoreacres
January 14, 2021 at 6:10 AM
What a good memory you have; I wouldn’t have thought of that picture from over six years ago. As much as those bits of fluff really did look like snowflakes, I’m happy to have seen the real thing on poverty weed.
Steve Schwartzman
January 14, 2021 at 6:28 AM
Those two photos would make a good pairing.
Lavinia Ross
January 14, 2021 at 8:57 AM
They would indeed.
Steve Schwartzman
January 14, 2021 at 10:49 AM
I see much spiritual meaning in plants that bend under a heavy burden but do not break, Steve.
Peter Klopp
January 14, 2021 at 8:35 AM
But then what do you make of the ones that do break? Out my window I can see that one large branch of an Ashe juniper in the neighbor’s yard split off, and so did one on the opposite side of our house.
Steve Schwartzman
January 14, 2021 at 10:51 AM
These would be the equivalent to those individuals who are inflexible and lack the ability to compromise. They are mostly the first one to BREAK down.
Peter Klopp
January 15, 2021 at 10:22 AM
So you’ve been able to extend your analogy.
Steve Schwartzman
January 15, 2021 at 10:29 AM
The same happens with buddleia here. It is easily bent under snow and breaks.
Lavinia Ross
January 14, 2021 at 8:58 AM
What species do you have there? The Buddleja racemosa that grows wild in Austin is on the small side.
Steve Schwartzman
January 14, 2021 at 10:54 AM
I am not sure which one. The original shrub was planted by the old owner. It is a nice lavender color, and does not produce seeds. It gets about 10 – 15 feet tall here. Roots readily from cuttings.
Lavinia Ross
January 15, 2021 at 8:48 AM
Ah, that sounds like it’s a cultivated variety, then, rather than a local wildflower. The one here is sometimes called butterfly bush, presumably because it attracts them. I imagine the same is true for yours.
Steve Schwartzman
January 15, 2021 at 8:55 AM
Of course I don’t think of Texas and snow together but I realize that’s not correct. These are beautiful!
bluebrightly
January 14, 2021 at 1:42 PM
Awesome snowsome, as I’ve taken to calling it (as of a minute ago, anyhow). The Texas Panhandle and a few western locations in the state regularly get snow. In Austin it’s uncommon, once every several years, and this past Sunday was one of those. What a chance to play for five hours.
Steve Schwartzman
January 14, 2021 at 1:53 PM
Better than the usual ice storms
MichaelStephenWills
January 14, 2021 at 3:41 PM
Down here there are no usual ice storms. We get ice only infrequently, and when we do I rush out to take advantage of it.
Steve Schwartzman
January 14, 2021 at 3:49 PM
I can’t speak to poverty weed, but I can say that many trees bow their boughs under the weight of snow. Our hemlocks and pines do and an October snowstorm several years ago snapped our Magnolia in half right down the middle. The main reason I hesitate to do photography in the woods during a serious snowstorm is falling branches.
Steve Gingold
January 14, 2021 at 4:38 PM
I understand your hesitance to go into the woods during a serious snowstorm. I think we go only a couple of inches, and I never worried about branches falling on me—of course you could say maybe I should’ve worried. One Ashe juniper branch broke off on a tree in our yard, and one in the neighbor’s yard.
Steve Schwartzman
January 14, 2021 at 4:55 PM