Native Plants
Smith, R.W.
Robert Smith is not a botanist, but he's been interested in botany for many years, starting as a grade-schooler in West Virginia. If life circumstances had been different, he might have become a botanist.Robert is now retired from the State of Michigan where he was a social worker and administrator, mostly in child welfare. He's been a frequent contributor to the University of Michigan herbarium, and owes much to the staff there, especially Ed Voss, Tony Reznicek and Bev Walter who have mentored his efforts. Robert got his first camera while serving in Viet Nam in 1966, and has been involved in photography periodically ever since. From 1977 to 1982, Robert did regional art fairs. His main photographic interest was natural subjects, particularly wildflowers.
In 1979, Robert stopped near his home in Adrian, Michigan to check out an interesting spot. It turned out to be so interesting he became more involved in botanizing and conservation, and mostly let photography go. That spot became the Nature Conservancy's Ives Road Fen Preserve, a globally endangered habitat.
For Christmas of 2009, Robert's wife gave him a digital Canon camera, and you're now seeing the results. So, Robert has no formal training in botany or photography, but he happily reports, "I sure am having fun in retirement!"
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is committed to developing the premier resource for native plant images in North America through continued growth of the Plant Image Gallery. You can help us achieve our mission ...to increase the sustainable use and conservation of native wildflowers, plants, and landscapes... by becoming a contributor.
scientific name | common name(s) | image gallery |
Panax trifolius | Dwarf Ginseng | |
Packera tridenticulata | Threetooth Ragwort | |
Packera tridenticulata | Threetooth Ragwort | |
Panicum virgatum | Switchgrass Wand Panic Grass | |
Penstemon albidus | White Penstemon White Beardtongue Red-line Penstemon Red-line Beardtongue | |
Penstemon barbatus | Scarlet Bugler Beard-lip Penstemon Beard-lip Beardtongue Red Penstemon Red Beardtongue Goldenbeard Penstemon Goldenbeard Beardtongue Saint Joseph's Staff Varita De San Jose | |
Penstemon breviculus | Shortstem Beardtongue Narrow-mouth Penstemon Little Penstemon | |
Pedicularis canadensis | Canadian Lousewort Wood Betony | |
Pedicularis canadensis | Canadian Lousewort Wood Betony | |
Pedicularis canadensis | Canadian Lousewort Wood Betony | |
scientific name | common name(s) | image gallery |