Pipevine Swallowtail
The best way to find butterflies is to find the flowers they’re feeding on. Right now that’s Bee Balm.
Lead Plant
From a distance this prairie shrub looks grey, but if you get in close you’ll see brightly colored flowers.
American Lotus
The lotus has just started blooming. The Lotus Ponds are easy 10-minute walk from the PGT visitor center. You should come and take a look!
Compass Plant
Compass Plants are starting to bloom despite the drought we are experiencing right now. The flowers are on stalks that grow as high as 9-feet above the prairie.
Green Heron
We’ve been seeing a pair Green Herons at Potter’s Lake this week. Even though they nest here they are secretive, and we don’t see them very often.
Giant Swallowtail
I’ve been seeing more of these large butterflies recently; they are stunning! This one is feeding on the appropriately named Butterfly Weed.
Wild Petunia
In the mowed paths in prairie you can find this wildflower. To see it you need to look down at your feet. It’s blooming now and will keep blooming into … Continued
White Indigo
This is one of the showy plants blooming in the prairies now. I often see bumble bees prying their petals open to get nectar. Earlier in the year we had … Continued
Common Yellowthroat
This warbler is one of the most common birds found in the prairies at the PGT. However, it likes to stay hidden, so you’re more likely to hear it than … Continued
Mullein
Because it’s not invasive we don’t worry about this exotic wildflower. The tall flower stalks are attractive.