My day off – from blogging, that is – was very productive, as I hoped it would be. The big struggle over the past several days – weeks, really – has been to find a way into the narrative. I’ve tried many different approaches, but have finally nailed down something that works for me. That done, I’m galloping along, mainly because I am now free to draw on the blog entries that tell the tale of my stay here. They need re-writing, naturally, but my goodness it feels like coasting downhill after all the recent agonising.
I am going to risk suggesting that this is a species of marsh hyssop which, according to the good book, generally inhabits watery areas but “may persist as a prostrate plant in muddy places.” I could be hopelessly off-target. I am also in doubt about this rather flamboyant customer, but I think it’s a bush morning glory, the one that sends down a great fat tap-root several feet.
As for this, well, I’m afraid I’ve missed the boat as far as identification goes. This is its seed-pod, and I have no recollection of seeing it in flower.
I’ve tended to shy away from photographing grasses. I’m enjoying the variety of sizes, habits, colours and textures, but don’t feel confident about naming more than a handful. However, out along the limb I go… and suggest that this might be sand muhly. Not a favoured grass, as I recall, but attractive to the eye.
But all this talk of plant-life is mere flimflam. The news of the day is that I think I have finally found a genuine ancient artefact. I shall be listening for sounds of laughter as I claim this as a spear-head. Well, it looks very much like one, and it’s almost two inches long. I stumbled across it quite by accident when I was picking my way down a draw that had recently been flushed by rain.
It may be a common or garden piece, and it may well have been crafted by an apprentice or a child, but I shall treasure it.