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A small, elegant plant grows on the beautifully fitted and mortared stone walls which define, for me at least, Flint Hill. This plant, controlled and exquisite, engaged my curiosity soon after I moved to this friendly town. For a long time I could only give it a glance for I was occupied with making this house our home; moving furniture, unpacking books and dishes, and arranging the kitchen.
The clusters of nearly round, scalloped leaves of the little plant sprouted from the masonry walls along the steps leading to the basement of this splendid old house, which dates —- according to landlord Robert Metcalfe — to at least 1811. It was here I first noticed the plant as I carried boxes to be stored. I didn't have time then for a close look; all I could do was wonder and admire. The graceful plant also cascaded down the four-foot walls across Route 522.
I have impetus to give a name to all green growing things. This elegant plant was one I had never seen before and I have been an avid plantwatcher for more years than I want to think about. Walls of carefully fitted stones of varying heights line the streets along Route 522 in Flint Hill. Some of these stones are very large, boulder size. 1 have noted that this wall-loving plant seems to prefer the west side of the north-south running Route 522. At places the walls are quite high and the mysterious plant is at eye level. This is the oddly pleasant perspective I get when I walk to the store or post office.
Finally I found the tiny flower of this unknown plant which sends its leaves tumbling down the stones encrusted with yellow lichens. It was pale lilac with a yellow "palate" at its center. The shape and design of the flower was much like a snapdragon. Here, at last, was a clue.
Birds are the passion — almost obsession — of my life, but I am a botanist by academic training to which the years have added experience. In identifying the plant, I could, of course, work my slow way through a botanical key, choosing and discarding characteristics. This would eventually lead me to a family, then another key and with more careful choices, to a species. This is a time-consuming, eye straining chore. I had grown rusty after months, even years, of non-doing.
Structure and form of flowers define the family to which plants
95.5%