Bright, Brisk, Beautiful!

This morning was bright, brisk and beautiful.  There was some light frost that turned quickly to dew.  Most sumac is full blown red, but some along the creek path are still 'blending' into red.  The slightest breeze is sending leaves dropping.  Enjoy it now before they fall.  Also, most of the milkweed are also full blown fluff with much clinging to anything it floats into.  

Enjoy!

~ Robin

Grasshopper Shenanigans

Found these little guys in a playful mood on Sunday.  I pulled out a reflective disk to experiment with my photography.  I have not mastered it yet, but this little guy decided to play on it.

Near the first bridge, I spied this guy hiding behind some Goat's Beard seed parachutes.  

Enjoy!

~ Robin

Friday: Oodles New Bloomings

Spiderwort

Friday's walk found several new flowers in bloom.  Along the creek several Spiderwort are showing their purple blooms.

Also at the park are Yellow Goat's Beard, Wild Four O'Clocks, Slender Beardtongue, Hoary Alyssum, Crown Vetch, White Wild Indigo and White Campions.  

Yellow Goat's Beard

Wild Four O'Clock

Slender Beardtongue

Wild White Indigo

Hoary Alyssum

Crown Vetch

White Campion

White Campions are another flower that are either male or female.  This one appears to be male. I never knew so many of these existed!

Enjoy!

~ Robin

Thursday Happenings

Although much of the park has received its 'summer cut', the marsh road has not been touched yet.  There is still time to catch the Virginia Waterleaf.  Northwood has their own Wild Geranium now as well.  They can be seen on the forested hillsides.  The taller purple flowers are Dame's Rocket.

Golden Alexanders are also in bloom along the creek edges.

Enjoy!

~ Robin

Visiting Next Door

Virginia Waterleaf

Wild Geranium

I headed next door today - to French Regional Park.  I thought I might find this flower - Virginia Waterleaf.  Although there are some along our marsh road, the 'haircut' timing usually prevents us from seeing this blossom.  Maybe this year it will be different.  Most at French are not quite open as well.  Wild Geranium are blooming in abundance though.  




Aside from these, I found a little Water Horsetail drenched in dew.

Enjoy!

~ Robin
  

Nodding Trillium

Nodding Trillium are in full flower along the first forest trail.

This flower is difficult to see because it hangs down under the large canopy leaves.  

Enjoy!

~ Robin

Jack-in-the-Pulpits Emerging

Jack-in-the-Pulpits are starting to unfurl.  There is a patch along the marsh road at the wettest areas opposite the marsh.  This is another plant that is male or female.  Some people call the female "Jill".  This plant also has a unique species 'safety' function.  It may switch between male and female for a season to better chances of reproduction. Watch for this interesting plant to start unfurling its leaves. 

Enjoy!

~ Robin