Field report: May 22, 2009
I spent a couple hours at Long Lake Regional Park today. On the prairie, the prairie smoke and pussytoes are starting to go to seed, though there are still plenty of blooms left. The blue-eyed grass is blooming now, as is American vetch, lupine and Carolina puccoon. Bastard toadflax and golden alexanders are finally opening up—I saw the first buds on them weeks ago.
In the woods by Rush Lake, the giant colony of European lily-of-the-valley is in full bloom. When I went into the thick of it to take some pictures I thought I would pass out from the scent, it was so strong. Also blooming in the woods now are cream pea, starflower and drooping trillium. Last year I only saw a handful of trillium scattered about, but this year I found a clump of about a dozen flowering plants, plus the scattered loners. I was worried it was dying out, but now I’m not so concerned.
Tags: Long Lake Park, nature, prairie, spring, Wildflowers
