I enjoyed the walk with you. Your writing reminded me of how different the flora and fauna are as you move across the country. Some of the things you mentioned are things I do know. That purple thistle has been a favorite since I first was aware of seeing them growing in the cracks in sidewalks of Nashville nearly 30 years ago. I was born in Texas but my family left for Oklahoma when I was so young that I don't know anything at all about the state in which I was born. Maybe I'll get a chance someday to take a walk of my own and will be sure to avoid the poison ivy and the bullnettle, now that I've been forewarned about it.
Here's a seder memory for you:
One year we sat down for seder at my aunt's house. I think it was about 4:00 in the afternoon, on a week day. We were reading from the Hagaddah, the wine glass was full for Elijah. It sat in the center of the table with its prominent promise. At the precise moment we were expecting Elijah at the door, there was a knock. We children all looked at each other, our eyes wide with surprise. My aunt went to the door and opened it. There stood a man delivering the dry-cleaning. It was a wonderful moment. We always remembered it at all the subsequent seders.
Nina,
Bull nettle, Cnidoscolus texanus, is as you might expect from the botanical name found mainly in Texas. A close relative, Cnidoscolus stimulosus which goes by the bizarre common name of finger rot is found throughout the southeast. Another member of the genus, Cnidoscolus angustidens, is found in Mexico and is called mala mujer, wicked woman. All of the common names seem to indicate trouble.
RD,
That's a funny story. Thanks for sharing it.
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