This week, Terri’s Flower Hour #40 arrives at the letters G, H, and I. I went to my photo archive to see what I could post — something local, to keep the challenge close to home. I found a few candidates among our native wildflowers, and then this image stopped me. It holds two flowers, yet between their names they cover all three letters. One flower answers for both G and I — one of those names is scientific. Can you identify them?
Both flowers have appeared on this blog within the last three months, so they may look familiar. Here are a couple of hints while you think it over. If you’d rather not wait, just click here.
G (or I) is the showy one on the right side of the frame. Each slender stem carries a single flower head about 2 inches (5 cm) across, its ray petals burning red at the center and tipped in yellow, like a pinwheel caught fire. When the petals fall, a round seed head stays behind — the photo is full of those pale globes, which I find almost as photogenic as the blooms.
H is the tall one on the left. It stacks its lavender flowers in whorls up the stem, tier above tier, like little pagoda roofs, and can reach 1–3 feet (30–90 cm). Crush a leaf, and you get a clean citrus scent — though the bees and butterflies need no such invitation.
Both are Texas natives, and in late May they bloom side by side along roadsides and open fields — purple spires standing over a low fire of red and yellow.
The Reveal
G is for Gaillardia pulchella, better known as Firewheel.
H is for Horsemint (Monarda citriodora).
I is for Indian Blanket — yet another name for Firewheel.
Two flowers, three letters. Sometimes the archive does the spelling for me.
That is the story behind the shot. If you liked this post, you may also be interested in others featuring Firewheel, FlowerHour, Horsemint, Indian Blanket, Texas, and Wildflowers. Until the next time, keep clicking and capturing the beauty your eyes find.
Posted for Terri’s Flower Hour #40.
Sources:
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center — Gaillardia pulchella (Firewheel / Indian Blanket) — https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=GAPU
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center — Monarda citriodora (Horsemint / Lemon Beebalm) — https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=MOCI
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Anne Sandler
A great 3 in 1 in a beautiful image, Egidio! Well done!!
Terri Webster Schrandt
Two flowers three letters, so cool and clever, Egidio! The photo is ao beautiful in color and composition. I love the firewheels, we have a version of them here.