Old man's beard

Drummond's clematis (Clematis drummondii)

Back in my former life, my former husband would often point out this vine to me when we traveled Texas highways. I didn't pay much attention. In those days, native species didn't interest me like they do now. It was just another ol' plant. But I remember him telling me, "There's some old man's beard!" Now I think the vine is one of the coolest native plants, and I WANT SOME! Today, James and I drove out in the country, and he stopped so I could pick some seeds from some growing on an old fence. I had to try and shoot some photos first. Isn't it beautiful? Old's man beard is related to the purple clematis, which also has a fluffy seed head.

NOTE TO SELF: Today, September 28, 2012, I "planted" these seeds along an old barbed wire fence on the west side of our property.