Great Spangled Fritillary on Butterfly Weed
Great Spangled Fritillary, Speyeria cybele Butterfly weed has just come into bloom, and – as promised by its name – it’s drawing lots of butterflies. Look closely and you’ll notice … Continued
What’s Blooming at Prairie Garden Trust This Week?
Pale Purple Coneflower, Echinacea pallida One of the most common butterflies at the Prairie Garden Trust, this Great Spangled Fritillary is feeding on a Pale Purple Coneflower—just now beginning to … Continued
Prairie Penstemon in Bloom
Prairie Penstemon, Penstemon cobaea The striking Penstemon cobaea—also known as Prairie Penstemon or Large-flowered Beardtongue—is now blooming at the Prairie Garden Trust. I’ve spotted these vivid purple blossoms near the … Continued
Kentucky Warbler
Kentucky Warbler, Geothlypis formosa Every morning I wake up to the ringing song of a Kentucky Warbler. Despite their bright yellow bellies they are hard to spot because they tend … Continued
Spring Forest Awakening
View into Hillers Creek Valley Over just a few short weeks, the forest at the PGT has transformed—its fresh foliage unfolding almost overnight. The layers of color and texture make … Continued
Coreopsis Hillside
Lanceleaf Coreopsis, Coreopsis lanceolata This week at the PGT (Prairie Garden Trust), patches of Lanceleaf Coreopsis are starting to bloom. This attractive wildflower is native to much of the central … Continued
Shooting Star
Shooting Star, Dodecatheon meadia This week, I’ve been spotting these delicate wildflowers in scattered patches across the prairie. A few can also be found in the plantings near the PGT … Continued
PGT Spring Bird Walk
Prothonotary Warbler, Protonotaria citrea Lorna and I were lucky to spot a brilliant Prothonotary Warbler at the Prairie Garden Trust this week – a real treat! If you’d like a … Continued
Rookery Return?
Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias This morning, Ginny Wallace and Lorna spotted a Great Blue Heron perched on a nest in the Sycamore trees—right where the old rookery used to … Continued