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The Daily Bucket: Flora around the house. Now in 1080p and with a poll! [1]

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Date: 2022-07-14

Welcome to my fifth Daily Bucket! My fourth Bucket’s draft felt like it growing too big, so I got the idea to separate it into two. In the last Bucket, you got to see pictures of birds and spiders I took with my new-to-me old digital camera. This Bucket will focus on flora. Really it’s flora that got my “fourth Bucket” started (and why I realized it needed to separate).

For some time, I’ve been wanting to get pictures of a couple of plants I’ve found around. In particular, a “white one” and an “orange one.”

I like to post my pictures first on iNaturalist so I can get an idea of an ID. Most often I’m totally clueless and depend on the suggestion the site gives me while uploading my “observation.” I enjoy seeing the community there help confirm or correct my ID.

Persian Silk Tree (Albiziajulibrissin) as identified by iNaturalist. EMBIGGEN!

I know it’s ok to leave something as “unsure” or “unknown,” but I like to put forth at least a little bit of effort in getting an ID to start with. Sure ID’s aren’t really all that important, but I enjoy the knowledge of being able to ID what something is. I think it helps enhance my awareness of the nature around me. I think I feel more accomplished when I can correctly ID something. Sure, the curiosity is nice, too, but it can also be confusing and frustrating.

You may find in this Bucket in particular, I wasn’t able to get some IDs confirmed and so I have some confusion. My “fourth Bucket” has been in the works for a little while now. I was hoping to get some IDs from iNaturalist, but not all of them got attention. So, if you see something you know or can help me with, please feel free to! Even if I’m wrong about and ID (or anything) please feel free to let me know that, too! Learning is fun!

I’ve lived in this house for many years. I never paid much attention to the flora and fauna around me, unless it’s fauna I don’t usually see like the Garter snake or Box turtle I found. Participating in The Daily Bucket has made me more aware of what’s around me and I love it!

The “white one”

Appears to be Genus Yucca. EMBIGGEN!

I saw this plant and thought it was interesting. The base reminded me of plants I saw in GA. I think there what I see as a base here was much larger. The only iNaturalist ID I could come up with was “Genus Yucca,” so this is one I ask you to help me with. When I think of yucca, I think of arid environments. It is not arid here in my area of VA. I was given details about how they were bought and more about what they are, but details are fuzzy since a dog was barking during the conversation.

Hopefully this gives a sense of scale. EMBIGGEN!

I’m hoping that the second picture helps give a sense of scale, but the yard is inclined. The “yucca” here are a few feet higher than the cement under the metal roof of the building in the foreground. I did walk up to the plants on the right side of the picture and noticed some are taller than me, I am 5’9”. (So, imagine my feet at about the bottom right-hand corner of the picture.)

The “orange one” and it’s flower bed fellows

I noticed these orange flowers some time ago and decided I wanted to get pictures of them. It was one of the first things I set out to capture on my digital camera. It turns out, they’re Orange Day-Lilies.

Looks like their leaning. Maybe I should flip the picture so that they’re “leaning left.” LOL EMBIGGEN!

Here you can see the Orange Day-Lilies again, but with something else.

Wild Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) with Orange Day-Lilies (along with another in the background, which you’ll see very soon.). EMBIGGEN!

These flowers make me think of cauliflower, which is great with melted Velveeta (wow I haven’t had that mean in a very long time!).

Again, iNaturalist users haven’t helped confirm the ID. I used a suggestion on the site.

Broad-leaved Sweet Pea (Lathyrus latifolius) with Orange Day-Lilies.

iNaturalist’s suggested was “Broad-leaved Sweet Pea,” but no one’s added to confirm or correct. I put them here, because you can see the Orange Day-Lilies.

Roses and hostas

Roses (Genus Rosa) according to someone on iNaturalist. EMBIGGEN

iNaturalist is telling me these are Genus Rosa. They don’t look like the shape of roses I’m used to seeing. It just shows that what I think of something doesn’t always match reality and I need to expand my perspective (that’s why learning is fun!).

I was confused about the next ones, too.

I did something really awesome with the roses and hostas. I asked for permission to share the pictures I took. (I did this for the “yucca,” too, but it was a different person.) I explained that, “I am part of an online community that likes to share pictures of the things around us like plants and animals. We talk about birds a lot.” So, basically I just described to them what we do in Backyard Science and The Daily Bucket.

I also asked for ID details, since both above confused me. I did realize before I asked that it’d be better to ask for IDs by showing the pictures I took. I didn’t, but I wouldn’t have been able to do so anyway as one has COVID right now.

“Roses” and “hostas” were indeed confirmed. When I mentioned the two hostas and how they look similar but different I was told “maybe they are different types of hostas.” Seeing here that I said “Genus Hosta,” it makes sense. So, I have the genus, that’s a start. This is another I turn to you and ask for your input. :)

Not only was permission granted, but I was told, “take all the pictures you want.” I was even told of other interesting flowers around, even at other houses. This made me realize that my close neighborhood is my primary patch. I intended to go to Granny’s, but I’m getting so excited just by what’s around me. I’m looking forward to sharing more of my primary patch with you! My neighbors are really awesome. This is news to you, not me. LOL

It’s Four O’clock some where?

No one on iNaturalist has yet to confirm or correct this ID. Instead, it was given to me when I asked, “what are these flowers over here?” I just recently saw these again as I was doing yard work and what I saw was depressing. The flowers are pretty much lying down on the ground. I did some other yard work today, but got exhausted. It’s really hot and about storms are approaching. I have some string and the work to tie them up has already been started by someone else, but I intend to finish it. I’m just glad I got this picture when I did.

Christmas Cacti

Christmas Cacti (Genus Schlumbergera) EMBIGGEN!

My mother loves Christmas and winter (absolutely the worst time of year IMO). She’s had these Christmas cacti for a long time. I remember that Granny liked them and had them in her house, too. I think they look like someone peeled an apple and made a plant of it.

Who wants cacti for Christmas? EMBIGGEN!

Sunflowers

Thanks for joining me for my fifth Bucket! It’s kind of hard to believe this is #5! Now it’s your turn! What have you been observing in the world around you? How’s the weather? What birds are you hearing? Are there other flora or fauna you’ve seen that you’d like to share? Please do so!

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/7/14/2104219/-The-Daily-Bucket-Flora-around-the-house-Now-in-1080p-and-with-a-poll

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