The MN wildflower blog

First blooms of the 2009 season at Long Lake Regional Park. I’m glad the honor was given to a native species this year.

Many flowers still blooming at this time of year are invasive species. It’s nice to see some natives still doing well. I think the bees were happy, too.

I was lucky to have 2 photos today worthy of the title “photo of the day”. The flowers here seem to glow even though the plant was mostly in shadow. This is probably my favorite aster–the leaves have a lovely silvery sheen and are very soft to the touch.

(At least I think this is three-awn grass.) On this last day of summer, I got some very nice photos of various grasses but this one really struck me, like a piece of abstract art. This shot is looking straight down at the top of the plant, in early morning light.

The joe-pye weed may not be around for much longer, so everybody (including me and the butterflies) should drink it in before it’s gone for the season.

The bumblebees were out in force today, devouring the purple prairie clover. Notice the red-orange color of this guy’s pollen basket. You could hear the buzz from 10 yards away.

Twice in the past week a brilliant splash of orange in a sea of dark green has caught my eye, and it turned out to be Michigan Lily. It’s a great flower.

The camera often captures things I don’t see, like the little spider hiding under one of the flowers.

I went out specifically looking for orchids today, tubercled rein orchid in particular. I didn’t find it, but ragged fringed orchid is a pretty nice substitute.

I took about 10 pictures waiting for this critter to hold still long enough to get a clean shot. Anybody know what it is?