Rock Jasmine in Lost and Lassoed: A Symbol of Connection and New Beginnings

What Is Rock Jasmine?

Rock jasmine (Androsace spp.) is a small, pink wildflower native to the Rocky Mountains. In Lost and Lassoed, it appears as a specific species that becomes the centerpiece of a summer-long foraging project between Teddy Andersen and Riley Ryder. The flower is introduced in Chapter 16 when Teddy shows Riley a 1998 Rocky Mountain Native Plant Guide. Riley picks rock jasmine as the first plant she wants to find because of its pink color—the same shade as the sticky notes they use to mark pages. The flower is rare enough that Teddy worries they might never locate it before summer ends, which gives the search an emotional urgency.

Where Rock Jasmine Appears in the Story

The flower recurs in two main phases: first as a goal (the search phase) and then as a found treasure (the resolution phase). Each appearance deepens its emotional weight.

The Shifting Meaning of Rock Jasmine

Phase 1: A Shared Goal and a Promise

When Riley first picks rock jasmine, it is simply a pretty picture in a book. Teddy uses the search as a way to connect with Riley, spending hours flipping through the guide, explaining concepts like perennials, and marking pages. The flower becomes a tangible object of their growing friendship. Teddy later starts the embroidery project—a fabric record of their finds—which Gus calls “really thoughtful.” The project transforms the flower from an abstract goal into a symbol of care and creativity. Teddy’s fear of failing Riley (she worries about “any sense of failure” if they never find it) reveals that the rock jasmine has come to represent her hope of being a reliable presence in Riley’s life.

Phase 2: A Gift of Commitment

Gus’s surprise in Chapter 40 redefines the flower entirely. He does not simply take them to the rock jasmine; he clears a trail to it, using a chainsaw on fallen trees. His motivation is explicit: “I wanted to do this for her. And for Riley. I wanted them to be able to finish what they’d started this summer, and I wanted to be part of it. I wanted to show up for both of them—to show them that I’m going to be all in. Forever.” Before this moment, rock jasmine belonged to Teddy and Riley’s relationship. After Gus intervenes, it becomes a symbol of his willingness to remove obstacles—both literal and emotional—so that Teddy and Riley’s bond can flourish. The flower also represents the new beginning Gus creates for the three of them, a family that is not yet official but is already being built.

Character and Theme Connections

Characters

• Teddy Andersen – Rock jasmine mirrors Teddy’s own desire to be a creative, nurturing presence. Her embroidery project is an act of love, and her anxiety about not finding the flower reflects her deeper fear of not being good enough for Riley and Gus.
• Riley Ryder – Riley’s innocent choice of the pink flower sparks the whole quest. She embodies the joy of discovery and the kind of unguarded connection that Teddy helps her cultivate.
• Gus Ryder – Gus’s act of clearing the trail is his love language: practical, selfless, and permanent. He removes the physical barrier to the flower just as he works to remove the emotional barriers between himself and Teddy.
• Hank Andersen – Though not directly involved in the foraging, Hank is the source of the 1998 field guide. His outdated book becomes the catalyst for the summer project, linking Teddy’s father to her new life.

Themes

• Single Parenthood – Gus’s determination to show up for both Teddy and Riley reflects his growth as a father who is learning to let someone else into his tightly controlled world with his daughter.
• Vulnerability – Teddy’s admission to herself that she would be heartbroken if they never find rock jasmine reveals her emotional stake. Gus’s fear that the wildflowers might be “fickle—there one day and gone the next” mirrors his fear that love can vanish.
• Found Family – The three collect the flower together. Teddy is not Riley’s mother, but the scene creates a family unit. Gus’s line about being “all in” echoes the theme of building family beyond blood.
• Letting Go of Control – Gus planned the surprise meticulously, but he still had to trust that the flowers would still be there and that Teddy would want to ride out with him. The act of clearing the trail is a controlled gesture that nonetheless requires him to risk rejection.
• Love and Commitment – Rock jasmine ultimately becomes a promise. Gus’s clearing of the trail is a physical manifestation of his commitment, and Teddy’s embroidery project is hers. Together, they symbolize a love built on actions, not just words.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does rock jasmine become so important to Teddy before she ever finds it?
Teddy has just lost her job at the boutique and is hurting from her false accusations about her former boss. Riley gives her a fresh purpose. Rock jasmine represents Teddy’s ability to be dependable and creative in a new context. Failing to find it would mean failing the one relationship that has given her summer meaning. The flower is a test of her own worth as a caregiver and friend.

2. How does Gus’s act of clearing the trail change the meaning of the flower for the reader?
Before Chapter 40, rock jasmine is a shared goal between Teddy and Riley. Gus’s intervention transforms it into a symbol of his love. He does not simply show them where the flowers are; he removes every obstacle so they can reach them. This reframes the entire foraging project as a metaphor for his willingness to do the hard work of making a relationship possible. The flower becomes a token of his “all in” promise.

3. In what ways does the embroidery project mirror the characters’ emotional growth?
Teddy’s fabric map starts empty and gains a flower each time she and Riley find one. Like their bond, the project grows slowly and intentionally. Gus is moved when he first sees it, calling it “really thoughtful.” By the end of the book, the map is almost full—only rock jasmine remains. When Gus finally leads them to it, the map can be completed, just as the trio’s family unit can become complete. The embroidery is a physical record of love made visible.

4. Why does the author chose to have Riley exclaim “rock fucking jasmine” rather than a more childlike expression?
Riley’s use of the word “fucking” (which she has clearly learned from Teddy) is comic, but it also signals ownership. Riley is not just finding a flower; she is claiming it with the same raw enthusiasm she has for everything Teddy has taught her. The exclamation ties the flower to Teddy’s influence—Riley is mimicking her mentor’s language—and makes the moment feel earned. It also breaks the expectation of a sweet, quiet discovery, replacing it with a burst of unfiltered joy that matches the triumph of the scene.