Peppergrass, Lepidium virginicum Florida Native Plant Short Verse

Florida Wildflower Poetry, Peppergrass, Lepidium virginicum

...
vacant lot snacking
munch leaves and spicy seeds
i'll try if you do
...

Peppergrass, Lepidium virginicum.  Peppergrass brings back fun memories from my childhood where we would sit in the vacant lot and pick peppergrass seeds off the stem for spicy childhood snacking.  An important forage plant for wildlife and birds.

Elderberry, Sambucus nigra, Florida Wildflower and Native Plant Poetry and Art

Florida Wildflower Poetry and Art, Elderberry

...
elderberry jam
jar lips' purple goo
absurd not to lick
...

Elderberry has been revered as an important plant for centuries.  Hippocrates as well as many others throughout history spoke of elder's ability to feed and heal.  The purple berries and flowers have been found to be effective in combating influenza and in also making delicious jams and pies.  Elder grows well in a variety of soils and provides communal and foraging to pollinators and small mammals alike.

Climbing aster, Symphyotrichum carolinanum, Florida Wildflower Poetry

Climbing aster, Symphyotrichum spp.

..

lilac stars climb
wreathed through cypress, bag of
yarn not twisted more
...

Climbing aster can be reliably found in full lush bloom, even in the driest and hottest of summer droughts.  This shrubby vine produces masses amounts of highly fragrant luminous purple and mauve flowers. Once the vines start weaving through trees they form an almost impenetrable barrier.  When no other summer drought flowers can be found, climbing aster is there to feed hungry monarch butterflies.

Thistle, Cirsium spp., Florida Native Plant Short Verse

Thistle, Cirsium spp.

...
looks are deceiving
bull thistle's naughty habits
are swallowtail's delight
...

Across Florida, I see more swallowtails feeding off thistle flowers than almost any other roadside wildflower.

Toad flax and dock, Linaria canadensis and Rumex spp.

Toadflax and sorrel, Linaria canadensis and Rumex spp.

...
toad flax and sour weed
roadside kaleidoscope
mower comes too soon
...

Florida Wildflower Short Verse, Turkey Tangled Frog Fruit, Phyla nodiflora

...

fruit frog eyelash high

turkey leg vines wrap, purple

green earth trip trap

...

Ticktrefoil, Florida Wildflower Poetry

Ticktrefoil

...

another yard weed

impossible to get rid of

important to keep

...

Stick tights, Desmodium spp.

Just Another FB Rant About One of My Doctors

Dear Doctor: 

I want to extend an offer of help. FYI, you can tell me the same thing in the affirmative or in the negative. No need to predictably revert to the negative when blurting out my condition. You are revealing your insecurities! 

Fear not as I am here to help you. Next time you come in the exam room to speak with an aortic dissection survivor bite your tongue before blurting out 'after looking at your CT scans If I didn't see you sitting here I'd think you were dead or on the operating table!' 

Copy and paste or memorize the following utterance and don't act surprised I'm sitting in front of you with my torn aorta. You may say, 'You are a survivor. Your body is strong and you are on your way to recovery. I'm glad to be on your health management team and here is what I recommend.'

I promise then not to refer to your as Dr. Depression or Dr. PTSD and you may earn my trust. Hey, without me you're resume would not be as experienced with rare diseases.

You can do this. I got your back, Doc. I'm still alive. My aorta is torn, yup, but its like warped plywood - may be separated but still holding strong. And I promise I won't speak anymore of your insecurities.