The MN wildflower blog

Actaea rubra
The backdrop was a sea of wild ginger, Asarum canadense, in the woods at Battle Creek park.

Dicentra cucullaria
It looks like this species is almost done blooming for the season. I only found a few flowering plants left at Coon Rapids Dam today.

Trillium nivale
A rare species in Minnesota, found around Hastings.

Pulsatilla patens
Pasqueflower is now blooming at the Baxter/Brainerd Northland Arboretum. Got several good photos but I liked this one best. Thanks to Theresa Klaman for leading us to them.

On another note, we found last year’s remains of a fair number of Goodyera tesselata (Tesselated Rattlesnake Plantain) in a Jack Pine stand along SR64 north of Motley, along with some pearly everlasting, a couple different species of pussytoes, bearberry, and quite a lot of Indian pipe. We’ll be back there later in the season to see how things are coming up. Right now I am more interested in the pussytoes than the orchid because it may be a species we don’t have yet. We’ll find out in another month or so.

Clematis virginiana
I think this plant has very neat fruit. I saw a large vine fruiting up at Coon Rapids Dam about a month ago that looked decidedly shaggy from the “tails” on all the seed. I see now that they become quite feathery.

Symphyotrichum laeve
The only thing that went through my mind when I saw this was…“I’m not dead yet” (spoken in a Monty Python type voice, of course). It was not the only bloom I saw this morning, but they were few and far between. Considering the weather we’ve had this month, I was surprised to see any at all.

Solidago flexicaulis
I’ve seen no reference to diamond-shaped tips on the stamens or other parts, so maybe this plant is a fluke–or I caught it at just the right time. Either way, it’s a pretty neat effect.

Eryngium yuccifolium
I managed to get a short field trip in this morning before all the storms hit. The destination was a restored prairie on private property in Washington County, by gracious invitation of the owner (thanks, Mike). While I took some very nice photos of cardinal flower, partridge pea and other wildflowers, this simple one of rattlesnake master is my favorite of the day.

Physostegia virginiana
This was found growing on the bank of Rice Creek, along with blue lobelia, boneset, Joe-pye weed and other wet-loving plants. You can reposition the flowers and they’ll stay where you place them. I guess that makes it obedient.

Polygala sanguinea
I think some of the most interesting flowers grow in some type of wetland, and purple milkwort is no exception. This was found growing in a fen. The little spots of yellow are rings of 8 tiny stamens.