Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Noticing

I have been familiar with orange Jewelweed (touch me not) all of my life.  I have spent my time gleefully popping the seeds.  But I never knew until I read a couple of blogs a while ago, that there were yellow jewelweeds.  I found myself wishing that I could see some, but doubting that I would because, they don't seem to exist around here.

Today, I went with another volunteer to a farm very near the track, to photograph some lovely horses for the Trainer's Listings.  As we pulled into the driveway, we saw great stands of this:


Yup, yellow Jewelweed, the very flower I didn't think that I would ever see.  Isn't it funny that, so soon after I became aware that they existed, I found some?  I wonder why?  Just luck?  Or had I actually seen them before, and just not paid any attention to them, not even noticing that they were there?  I would guess that it is the latter.  I wonder how many things we don't see, every day when we pass them by?  I wonder what we are missing?

12 comments:

AJ-OAKS said...

Ahhh, such true words. Just how many things is it that we don't see. You take the most beautiful pictures. And I have learned quite a lot about names of flowers thanks to you.

Sharon said...

Well, that was nice, to find after thinking you wouldn't!
How much do we miss, I'm thinking we miss loads of things.....

Upupaepops said...

I think it is very common in that I hear it over and over.

People need to learn to see what they are interested in. You hear it a lot from people learning to bird watch, suddenly they wonder where all the birds came from. Also people who have possible issues with Hawk ( usually they have issues with coyote dogs cats and other small carnivores) suddenly they realise that Red-tailed hawks are everywhere here.

I am sure that i have, fore years, passed by plants I now recognize as rare. I know , like you, for years I was not aware of our local native orchids.

Now I see them!!!

Terry said...

I'm sure you're right. We don't see what's around us until we're aware of the possibilities.
Keep us posted on your track adventures.

The Redneck Rosarian said...

Just wanted to say hey and to tell you that I read this blog daily and enjoy your posts....We have bird feeders and enjoy our mornings watching the wrens and hummingbirds have their breakfast....

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

I think you're right there are a lot of things that are around us that we just need to slow down to notice and enjoy!

Sandra said...

So true! But I think our love of photography helps us see things we would otherwise overlook: some details that become interesting only at a closer look, different cloud shapes, things we see every day but don't really look at them until we find out it could be a nice blog material....

Tina said...

It's almost like Murphy's law, once you know about it, you really see it everywhere.

Inger said...

You may have seen them, but not realized what they were before. They are absolutely beautiful though and your photos are amazing.--Inger

wiseacre said...

I keep looking but have not seen any Pale Jewelweed around here in St. Lawrence Co. I know it's range is supposed to extend farther north but I've only seen it south of the Adirondacks. I've collected seed (but never planted it) from east of Albany.

I love carefully picking the seed pods and handing them to the unsuspecting :)

barefootheart said...

I can't recall seeing yellow jewelweed here, either. Lots and lots of orange. I'll have to watch for it.

Jacqueline Donnelly said...

Your photos are beautiful, Louise. I'm glad you finally found some Pale Jewelweed. Did you pop the pods? And taste the walnutty-tasting seeds?