Juliet Rynear, from Bok Tower Gardens, has been growing a number of seedlings of this plant in the hope of expanding its population -- volunteer groups have planted these out in several areas in central Florida, re-establishing populations where this plant has been known to grow historically, as well as creating new ones.
We met on a rather cool, sunny morning with a group of about 10 others and got straight to work, helping to plant 300-some-odd plants during the course of the morning. Here are some photos taken that day:
Plants in their peat pots.
Each has a blue flag and an "identity coin" with the individual's ID number...researchers have kept careful data on each seed as it was planted...where it came from, when it was planted, etc. so that the plants that successfully grow to maturity can be tracked.
Kenny planting a seedling.
Isaac planting a seedling.
Tim planting a seedling.
Seedling in its new home.
A more mature plant, planted a year or two ago. It should bloom in the next year.
You can learn more about this species via the following links:
http://www.fnai.org/FieldGuide/pdf/Lupinus_aridorum.pdf
http://hawthornhillwildflowers.blogspot.com/2010/01/scrub-lupine-lupinus-aridorum.html
http://www.centerforplantconservation.org/collection/cpc_viewprofile.asp?CPCNum=2693
http://www.florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/Plant.aspx?id=1243
We left a bit before all the seedlings were planted out in the hope of finding some Spiranthes longilabris still in flower in a wildlife management area several hours south. Alas, we found by sheer chance a few plants already bloomed out and in fruit, so better luck next year.
I will be back to photograph the lupines when it is their time to bloom this year.
