I can't get a break from the wild animals this week. I was admiring this Dog Fennel (above). . .thinking how it looks so soft and delicate . . . it would be so nice to lay down in it for a while and enjoy the breezes coming off the lake. Then. . . the dog (below) came charging at me with two others.
The photo below is a little distorted as I had a very long lens on the camera. The dog was about 200' away. He is a boxer. . .which is a relatively large dog. . .maybe 50#. Big teeth. I saw the big teeth.
The dog quickly covered the ground between us with two smaller dogs in pursuit. I stood motionless, protecting my hand, especially, which was recently damaged by a feral cat. A man who spoke no English and whom I'd never before seen came running after the dogs. NOTE: All of that land is our private property.
A few minutes later. . . the man had his dogs under control again. I exhaled . . .whew. . . no new bites. I decided to take another look at the Dog Fennel (scientifically this plant is Eupatorium capillifolium (Lamarck) Small). I snapped the shot below just as the dogs came charging back toward me.
So much for enjoying a little quite time with my natural surroundings. Time for a new bigger and better fence.
I love dogs. . . I just prefer them to not snap and snarl and bite at me.
If I had to describe the smell of Dog Fennel it would be . . . rank. This herb is usually about 4-6' tall in Florida. It is currently coming into full bloom. It sports numerous small branches that produce small linear or finely divided opposite or often fascicled (bundled) leaves. . .and a multitude of minute flower heads. . .which make it look very soft and feathery. The odor is palatable as one get close to the plant.
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