Aromatic Sumac
Aromatic Sumac, Rhus aromatica This native shrub can have the best fall color. There are some good patches of it along the sidewalk going to Beaver Lake here at the … Continued
Monarch Butterfly
Monarch, Danaus plexippus On a 40-minute walk at the PGT this afternoon we only saw only 2 Monarch butterflies. That’s less than we typically see during their fall migration. The … Continued
Virginia Creeper
Virginia Creeper, Parthenocissus quinquefolia More early fall color, this time it’s on one of our native vines. At the Prairie Garden Trust (PGT), you’ll find Virginia Creeper vines near the … Continued
Winged Sumac
Winged Sumac, Rhus copallinum Sumacs always show good fall color early. This sumac is called “winged” because it has little flaps (wings) along the stems between the leaflets.
New England Aster
New England Aster, Symphyotrichum novae-angliae The asters are slow to start blooming this year. I suspect it’s the lack of rain. After a year with generous rainfall it has suddenly … Continued
Early Fall Leaves
Early Fall Leaves Tree’s are showing a hint of fall color. Peak fall color should be in about a month.
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.