This little plant is actually a sedge but the unique white top turns it into a beautiful and unique wetland plant. A similar but smaller species, Rhyncospora colorata might throw you off at first but the latifolia species is significantly larger. Sandswamp whitetop sedge grows in wet areas and would make a great pond plant in a garden. There really not a lot to write about this one, but it is a pretty little plant that most people would over look. More information: +USDA plant database +David’s Garden information +Floridagrasses.org +Wildflower.org

This orchid is a familiar orchid as we saw it often in Florida. It’s always nice to see familiar plants back here in Texas. This beautiful orchid, according to Wildflower.org gets it’s genus name from a Greek word meaning beautiful beard. You can definitely see that beautiful beard in the photos above! Calopogon tuberosus is a widespread ground orchid occurring in many states of the U.S. and is typically found growing in wet pine ecosystems. Flowering time is late spring to early summer—these were blooming in late May/early June at the Watson Preserve. As always with orchids, you should never collect them from the wild and find a reputable source…