Before the Heat

There are heat warnings again today, so off to the park in the early morning.  The sun rises differently in the summer than fall or winter.

Although the sun has been up for a while, the nature walk area is still in the shadow of trees.  In the distance, sprinklers water the soccer field.

A new patch of Yellow Goat's beard is blooming near the first bridge.  When this plant goes to seed, it looks like giant stiff dandelion fuzz.

When the sun hit the creek path, I found a couple of  white butterflies flirting.  This one stayed still long enough for a picture.

Hope you enjoyed!

~ Robin

Koi, Motherwort, and Evening Primrose

I'm not sure how these Japanese fish got here in Northwood Park.

A variety of Koi populate the lake and creek.  These are colorful variations of carp often used to populate outdoor ponds.  These fish are hearty and can survive the winter.
Tall green plants near shaded parts are in bloom.

These are called Motherwort.

The flower looks rather exotic close up.
Along the marsh road, a new bright yellow flower is coming in.

Evening Primrose.  I thought it strange but nice that they were in bloom in the middle of the day, these are normally evening bloomers.

The photo does not do justice to the coloring of the flower.  They are a VERY bright yellow flower.

Hope you enjoyed!

~ Robin

Pale Pink, Bright Yellow, and Paper Wasp

There seems to be a never-ending stream of new flowers in bloom at Northwood.  Of the several buds that have not 'popped' yet, a couple new ones crossed over to open blossoms in the last couple days.

The petals of this Pale Purple Coneflower look almost white.  There are a number of these with spindly petals just starting to spread out.  Look for these mature in the days to come.

There are a few Common Mullein opening their bright yellow blossoms right now.  Both of these plant varieties are known for medicinal properties.  There are also signs of a new colony of wasps starting up.

This is a paper wasp.  This one looks like it is consuming a caterpillar.  These wasps are considered beneficial because they keep down the caterpillar population.  They are generally non-aggressive though may be if  threatened.

Hope you enjoyed!

~ Robin

Unusual White Flower

There is a white flower emerging at the park lately.  From a distance, it looks like a head of white blossoms rising above the brush.

Close-up, it looks more like cauliflower and has no petals.

This plant is a native of Minnesota, but the USDA does not have this cataloged native in our county.
It is a Wild Quinine and considered endangered in this state.  Pollinators are working to make sure it survives in Northwood.  It most likely originated from reseeding done by the city a few years ago.

Hope you enjoyed!

~ Robin

Milkweeds and Susans

Milkweed buds have been appearing over the last week.  Some started popping today.

Though most are still swelling buds, one popped full bloom.

There are at least a couple varieties, this one is common milkweed.

A bright yellow flower with brown center also started to show itself above the brush,

Black-eyed Susan.   Only a few can be seen right now on the creek banks.

Hope you enjoyed!

~ Robin

Spearman, Oxeye, and Assorted Flowers

Approaching the park from the south, there is a lovely flower bed planted and maintained by the city.

But exploring the south side of the lake, I discovered a new wildflower:

Smooth Oxeye.   Not far from here, found this fellow.

He has several names: Potato bug, Colorado Potato Beetle, and Ten-striped Spearman, to name a few.  He is generally considered a pest.  I find him rather exotic looking.

Hope you enjoyed!
~ Robin

Cattails and Ladybirds

The edge of the lake has had tall blades of green growing since spring.  Today was the first day I noticed 'flowers' on them!

These are Cattails and the thick padding are their flowers.  Most 'flowers' are brown.   I've been told in the Netherlands they call them 'cigar plants' - I can see why.  The flowers look like cigars!
The muskrats find their roots tasty.  Come spring, I've seen birds chase flying leftover fluff from the dried up flowers and use it to make their nests cozy.

Although this week was the first week of summer, Minnesota weather has been wet and chilly.  I found this little insect taking shelter in the fold of this blade.

So is this a Ladybug or a Ladybird?  The British would say Ladybird, most North Americans would say Ladybug, but the official common name is Lady Beetle.  There are over 450 species of them in North America.

Hope you enjoyed!

~ Robin

Beetles and Bugs - Sumac and Sheild

The day was on again off again storms, but I managed to find a window of time to go exploring.  Found this little fellow near a patch of sumac.

He is a Sumac Flea Beetle.  He had a bit of a time getting around the water drop,

and ended up crawling around it.
Another bug was closer to the creek.  This bug was much bigger.

Some people call these guys stink bugs.

Some call them shield bugs.  Technically he is probably euschistus obscurus.  His back looks like a shield to me!

Hope you enjoyed!

~ Robin

"Skipping" Through New Flora

On the way to the park, I stopped by the ponds on the empty corner lot.  Aside from new blooms, and vegetation, it was nearly impossible to get a photo without also capturing a lesser skipper!

There are two on this thistle.  This is likely a Canada Thistle.

Some were even on the Equisetum.  As a child, we called these 'Indian tinkertoys' because of the separate-able segments.
When I finally got to the park, the skippers were flitting here and there too as well.  Even on this new flower:

Sulphur Cinquefoil.

Hope you enjoyed!

~ Robin

New Hoppers

If you listen carefully while walking along the lakeside near the willow tree, you will hear soft skittering of a couple new batches of grasshoppers.  They are small right now, no longer than a staple.

These are in their nymph stage.  Their skins are tough.  Like our bones, only theirs is on the outside. In order to grow, they will shed their skin several times before they are full grown.

The different coloring, one more golden brown and one more grey, could indicate different species.  Regardless of species, they all have the long and strong legs.  Perfect for hopping.

Hope you enjoyed!

~ Robin

Wet Wildflowers

Drizzly day with sprinkles of isolated thunderstorms.  There were many things to see at the park.   One of the turtle nests was discovered and a predator had eggs for breakfast.  And I discovered more new wildflowers.

The purple dames are fading and a new purple is emerging. Crown Vetch are growing in thick near the end of marsh road, near the street (Winnetka).

This White Avens is looking a little droopy in the rain.  These are thinly scattered along the marsh road. 

This next one is growing among the rocks of the creek road.  The identification was tricky for me, so don't be shy to correct me.

I believe these are Flat-topped White Aster.

Hope you enjoyed!

~ Robin

Born in a Barn ... er ... Pavilion

The pavilion has become home to new babies recently.  Although discouraged, one nest slipped through obvious efforts to destroy.

A pair of Barn Swallows were busy with a new family.  As I watched, I saw much fidgeting and fussing about by the parents.

The care-giving pair switched up a few times as I watched them this afternoon.   They were bringing food and taking out the garbage.

These birds are often found skimming across the baseball and soccer fields near people.  They are insect eaters and hunt the newly stirred insects where people walk.

Hope you enjoyed!

~ Robin

Foxtails and Skippers

The clouds opened in the afternoon for a lovely evening.  Along the baseball fence I found some foxtails.  The first found at the park this year.  'Foxtail' is a generic label given to a number of grasses that have bushy spikes. I remember admiring their 'fur' as a child.

There were also a handful of these flitting about.  They are very small, maybe not even a half inch long.

It looks like a Least Skipper to me.

 Does it look like a Least Skipper to you?

Hope you enjoyed!

~ Robin

Milkweeds in June, Nearing Blossom

Blossoms are starting to form on this familiar plant.  Soon there should bloom.

This is one of my favorites: common milkweed.  There are common insect associations with milkweeds.

Like this Monarch, they rely solely on this plant.  Eggs are laid here and her caterpillars feed on it.

Today I found an unexpected visitor.

Not exactly sure what this little guy is doing here.  Maybe just as a place to blend in and hide for protection?  There are only a select few caterpillars that will eat a milkweed, and this guy is not one of them.

Hope you enjoyed!

~ Robin

Harlequin Blueflags

Although spiderworts dominate the purple at the park, a new purple flower has shown itself at the shore near the first bridge among the cattails.

These purple beauties are Harlequin Blueflags.  The pollinators have been out full force to help them.  Some make themselves obvious.

And some not so obvious ...

His backside gives him good camouflage!

Hope you enjoyed!

~ Robin

Green Frog, White Wild Indigo, and Orange Monarch

Spotted a green frog on the way to the park today.  It was on one of the large-leaf plants near the ponds on Boone Avenue.  It was resting on an upper leaf nearly at eye level.

It is a Rana Clamitans.  Looks a little young yet.  A reader has corrected me on this one .. it is more likely a Cope's gray tree frog.   If you see something that needs to be corrected PLEASE FEEL FREE to contact me with the correction!  Thanks Tami! 

At the park along the creek, a new white flower is starting to bloom.

A White Wild Indigo.  The blooms turn to black pods when it goes to seed.

A couple of monarchs have been teasing me in the last week or so.  I can see them, but they would not land for a photo, until today!

Monarchs are right at home on a milkweed!  The caterpillars only feed on milkweeds.

Hope you enjoyed!

~ Robin