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November 15 , 1998

Here is a sample of some of the flora recently seen around the area. The Prairie Onion (Allium stellatum) began to flower in mid October this year. This native onion, the only one that I know of that blooms in the fall, is uncommon on the Grand Prairie of North Texas. According to Bob O'Kennon of BRIT, it is more common on the prairies north of Dallas/Ft. Worth. I know of one population in Wise County. There is one large population here in Ft. Worth at Tandy Hills Park.

I have to brag about someones property in Montague County. None other that Jeanne Erickson's place! She just bought 68 acres on the south side of Lake Amon Carter. This is in the Western Crosstimbers. This in an area with a lot of hilly terrain, with large outcrops of conglomerate boulders. Ferns abound here! I've identified two as of one week ago. The Woolly Lip-Fern (Cheilanthes tomentosa) is abundant. Another fern, less seen as of yet, is Purple Cliff-Brake (Pellaea atropurpurea). It is common in Ft. Worth at the Ft. Worth Nature Center on one of the trails. Gray Golden Aster (Heterotheca canescens) and another unusual plant that will flower next year in late March to early April, is also here. It is called Pussytoes (Antennaria parlinii ssp. fallax). Jeanne's place is absolutely great. It's worthy of more trips to catalog the plants.

More later!
Jeff Quayle