phenotypic plasticity
i just received my favorite email in a long while from a graduate student in neuroscience who studied photography and genetics as an undergrad. she congratulated me on how my photos capture the phenotypic plasticity found in nature. in other words, how genetically similar individuals vary in appearance and behavior based on their environment. yes, i thought to myself. phenotypic plasticity. yes, indeed. god bless the scientists and the nerds. they (ok, we) are the best people.

feral bearded garden iris from along our driveway

turtle lake, shoreview, minnesota