There isn't much growing up on the Knoll right now, mostly sage and prairie clover, but Greene Prairie is really putting on a show right now. Gayfeathers and Blazing stars are just starting to bloom, and there were also Prairie Dock sunflowers. I opted for the shorter path, rather than the one that would take me down where the Cup Plant blooms, but was still treated to plenty of colorful blooms and a variety of dragonflies. Leaving the prairie, I passed a clump of yellow false foxglove back along the wooded trails. Here are a few photos from my walk this week.
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| Dotted Horsemint -- I love this alien-looking plant! |
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| Turkey Feather |
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| You can't see me! |
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| There was a ton of purple prairie closer up on Grady Knoll |
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| The entrance to Greene Prairie was flagged by this beautiful purple gayfeather |
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| There is a riot of nodding wild onion on Greene Prairie this year -- more than I remember seeing in recent years. Love these pretty little blossoms. |
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| Spotted Joe-Pye |
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| Yellow false Foxglove can be found in some spots along the wooded trails. These are actually parasites that grow on oak roots, and do not bloom in the same place year to year. |
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| There is still a lot of Rattlesnake Master in bloom. |
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| Field Milkwort grows at ankle level and are therefore easy to miss. |
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| Blazing Stars are beginning to bloom. |
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| White Snakeroot can be found along wooded trails. This is the plant that killed Abe Lincoln's mother. Cows eat it, which then poisons the milk. |
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| Goldenrod is also starting to bloom. Unfortunately, so is ragweed. |
LINKING TO: Thursday Thirteen
16 comments:
Awesome photos of plants that are unusual, intriguing and lovely. Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks, Mia! I can't believe I had not been to the Arb in more than a month, and was glad I went Tuesday evening, even if it did require a can of bug spray. ☺
I'm confused about the difference between gayfeather and blazing star. I thought it was the same plant. Have you ever tried citronella and essential oil spray to keep the bugs away? Just wonder if it could stand the test. Thanks for the photos and names to go with faces.
Colleen: Some people do call them by the same name, but these two plants are a bit different. The purple gayfethers are the long feathery stalks, whereas the blazing star only bloom at the top of the stalk. Both a type of liatris. If you look at the two photos I've posted, you can see they are a bit different. I know I've post pics in older posts of both together, but the stupid search function does not appear to search captions, so I cannot find it without spending some amount of time on it I don't have at the moment. :-S
Eye is satisfied, thanks.
Ron:Glad to please your eye today! ☺
Love the Dotted Horsemint and the Purple Prairie Clover ... well, actually, all the plants. It's a beautiful time of year for hiking in Wisconsin. :)
Beth: It's hard to choose one favorite, isn't it? I got some really good shots of the dotted horsemint and nodding wild onion. I'm going to have to get over to Dunn's Marsh soon for the sunflowers, too. ☺
Beautiful!
You are so lucky to have these wild places to walk
Hope you are having a wonderful day!
Lea
That blazing star is beautiful. Great shots. Always love learning and seeing new wildflowers.
These are lovely. Nice to see flowers like this, that I'm totally unfamiliar with too
horse mint so lovely
I always love your photos. And I love that you name them because I never know the names of the beautiful flora around here.
Thanks, Lea, Mittens, Anita, Sandy and Forgetfulone!
hahaha...yes I can see you ;)
Beautiful flowers
Thanks, Novroz! It's funny how some animals seem to think if they hold real still or if they duck behind tall grass, no one can see them, LOL.
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