Daydream
This little flower keeps its own hours. Moss rose opens only in bright sunshine, often around late morning, which earned it the nickname eleven o'clock. In French, it's the knight of eleven o'clock. At night, and on cloudy or rainy days, it stays closed tight, waiting for the light.
Wild moss roses have just five petals, but double forms like this one unfold layer after layer, soft and ruffled like a tiny rose. The plant itself grows in a low, fleshy mat that looks a lot like moss, it thrives in heat and drought, and bees and butterflies stop by to visit. The soft focus is on purpose, as dreamy as the flower's name.
This moment of noticing was a simple one. People here know how much I love photographing nature, so a neighbor invited me over: "Come by in the morning to photograph these beautiful flowers. You have to come early, though, so you see them before they become sheep food." And just like that, my morning was made by the delicate folds of this flower and all its beauty.
What we protect begins with what we notice. My noticing leads to The Wild Land Project.
About This Image
Common name: Moss rose (eleven o'clock, sun rose)
Scientific name: Portulaca grandiflora
Location: Northern Belize
Collection: Wild Bouquet
