Little Bluestem
Little Bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium Out-of-focus pictures can create interesting painterly images. This is a closeup of some grass blades.
Maximilian Sunflower
Maximilian Sunflower, Helianthus maximiliani These bright yellow wildflowers have just started to appear on tall stalks. I found a bunch of them near our mailbox that’s 8-feet tall.
Prairie Dragonfly
Prairie Dragonfly I think of dragonflies near water, but they’re actually all over, even in the middle of grassy fields.
Blue Vervain
Blue Vervain, Verbena hastata Spikes with these tiny blue-violet flowers are blooming in the prairies now. Wikipedia says that this plant is the larval host to the common buckeye butterfly.
Big Bluestem
Big Bluestem, Andropogon gerardi The sparkling water drops on this prairie grass caught my eye.
Country Lane
This is what you see on the road leading up to the visitor center at the Prairie Garden Trust.
Blue Lobelia on Hillers Creek
Blue Lobelia, Lobelia siphilitica Late summer is the best time to find this attractive wildflower. Look on the edges of shady creeks.
Only 1 Monarch!
Monarch, Danaus plexippus Despite millions of flowers blooming in the prairie, we saw only one monarch butterfly yesterday. Perhaps things will improve in a couple of weeks. According to ChatGPT, … Continued
Lily Pad Sunrise
Water Lily, Nymphaea odorata Reflections of a backlit forest surround the water lily leaves. This was taken at the Lotus Ponds at the Prairie Garden Trust (PGT)
Bumble Bee
Bumble Bee, Bombus sp. A bumblebee feeding on a Purple Coneflower. Bumblebees are common at the PGT this year, but I’m seeing fewer butterflies.