plant hunting at high speeds

Looking for a specific plant at 55 mph on a country back road where it's hard to pull over is an exciting challenge in December, especially as  most plants have given up their tall flower stalks. Recognizing plant communities is the key and when I started seeing the thick felted leaves of Mullen and and scraggly Goldenrod, I knew the one-inch high, emerald green rosettes of Evening Primrose would be in the gang. This sport of mine makes my husband nervous as I have little compunction on the rules of where to make a shoulder for myself and pull over.  After zooming past a mile or so of plant groups (but slowing down enough to irritate the drivers on my tail) I found a wide enough spot to relax him.

As I step out of the car the sound of cattle lowing reaches my ears and distant, repeated riffle shots. Yes, we are out in the country. I walk back and search the ground and it's like my whole energy field is vibrating & open to receive one signal; but my heart still takes a little leap when my eyes find the familiar circle of leaves. All of me smiles.
I cajole three pups into the trunk of my car to take home and release into the yard.

Next summer they will grow tall and sometime in August I'll start harvesting the flowers. Despite the name, for me this will be an early morning task. I'll take them back up to the kitchen, grind them with a little salt in the mortar and pestle and save them in a glass jar in the fridge until I have enough to distill into Evening Primrose Flower Water. My skin has never felt anything like it. Soft soft soft with a sheer electrical aliveness. Well worth my troubles, which are in reality, my joys.