Rose Mallow
Rose Mallow is a native hibiscus that’s looking unusually good right now. At the edge of the ponds there are large colonies of these tall wildflowers with huge blooms that … Continued
Orange Sulphur Butterfly
I’ve been seeing a lot more butterflies the past few weeks. At the moment I’m finding them feeding on Purple Coneflowers, Prairie Blazing Star and especially Hairy Mountain Mint.
Lotus Pods
July was the peak month for lotus blooms. Now the flower petals are dropping, revealing the seed pods. To see the lotus at the Prairie Garden Trust (PGT), follow the … Continued
Puffball Mushrooms
I’ve been seeing a lot of mushrooms this summer; they must like the rain. These egg-shaped mushrooms are called puffballs because when it’s ripe and you squeeze it, it emits … Continued
Sweet Coneflower
There are so many different kinds of yellow flowers in the prairie that it’s hard to keep them straight. Right now, the main one is Sweet Coneflower. It looks a … Continued
Water on Lotus Leaf
Walking after a rain shower yesterday I noticed beads of water on the lotus leaves. I’ve read that lotus plants have a waxy surface that causes the water to bead … Continued
Christmas Fern
I found this native fern growing on a dry wooded slope. When I looked at the underside of a frond, I found the spore clusters. This one was in the … Continued
Blazing Star Prairie
The purple spikes of Blazing Star are at peak bloom now. There is a good display of them just east of the PGT Visitor Center. The easiest way see them … Continued