After the first snow storm

Yesterday started with rain and ended with cold winds and snow cover.  The temperatures have dropped.  The late sun this afternoon had some melting effect and cleared some of the paths.  Snow clung to much of the foliage still.  But tender colors can still be found.

Enjoy!

~ Robin

Marsh road paved!

The path along the creek and the marsh road are finally open!  

The gravel is gone and the road is paved.  This will be primarily for bicycles.  








Late as it is in November, there are still late bloomers and color.  









Even active fish flash a little orange.

Enjoy!

~ Robin

Summer Tiaras

Summer is at full height.  Early morning provided for several golden moments.

Morning dew provided for lovely sunlit tiaras.



Enjoy!

~ Robin 

Autumn Leaves Starting to Fall

It seems there isn't a tree that hasn't started changing for fall.  Autumn leaves have begun to fall.  

Enjoy!

~ Robin 

Summer Exploding

Pale Purple Coneflower

Sulphur Cinquefoil

Butterfly Weed

Sunday was bright, hot, and windy.  The weather in the last week has caused an explosion of summer flowers.  

Common Milkweed

Yellow Daylily in flowerbed

Waiting on the wings were evening primrose, cattails, blazing prairies, among others.  The cattails are pollinating - anyone for cattail pancakes?

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

Unexpected Finds

A new yellow flower is popping up along the marsh road: Downy Yellow Violet.  I'm not sure if I just never noticed or if this is a new flower.  Also, there are a number of Shooting Stars forming buds along the creek.  This one has blossomed.

Enjoy!

~ Robin  

Raindrops Keep Fallin'

Yesterday my husband woke singing "Raindrops keep falling on my head ..."  Today was no exception.  Sometimes rain brings out more color and contrast.  I enjoyed my photo walk this afternoon in the rain.  

Enjoy!

~ Robin

Giganteus!

This pretty yellow native wildflower almost always has the sky as her background.  She is a Helianthus Giganteus, also known as a Giant Sunflower.  These grow from 4 to 10 feet tall, though I wonder if these may be taller. 

Enjoy!

~ Robin

Edge of Autumn

An Autumn Meadowhawk on a dried ragweed stem. 

Enjoy!

~ Robin

Beetles Blending

Several of the tall grasses are showing their petals.  I found a yellow Spotted Cucumber beetle among yellow petals.  And an orange lady beetle blending in among orange ones.  

Enjoy!

~ Robin

Already?

Mid-August and the small oak tree near the meadow has already started to color?   

Enjoy!

~ Robin

Nature's Cup

Lining the two ponds on Boone Avenue, are many tall yellow Cup Plants.  One need only inspect the stalks after a rain to know how they got their name.  

Enjoy!

~ Robin

Great St. Johnswort!

Great St. Johnswort.

Enjoy!

~ Robin

Beautiful Beards

First off, let me say that I don't know or understand how these got their names.  Though their names are curious.  The above flower is called Slender BEARDtongue.  And the one beside is called Yellow Goats BEARD.  Both are newly flowering this week at the park.  After finding these, I'd have to say that some beards are beautiful.

Enjoy!

~ Robin

Golden Alexanders

The summer cut has made some wildflowers more visible.  One can easily see yellow umbels of Golden Alexanders, or Zizia aurea, blooming along the creek paths.

Enjoy!

~ Robin  

Wobbly Warbler

This little guy was having trouble taking flight.  The Yellow Warbler was as busy eating as being concerned about that.  Eventually he flew a dozen feet into a wooded area.  Hope he is okay!

Should be relatively warmer today.

Enjoy!

~ Robin

Bright and Fickle

Though several buds are making a bright debut, the weather forecast is fickle about spring.  Snow? Really?  We shall see!

Enjoy!

Robin Clifton

Fox Sparrow

Saw a couple Fox Sparrows along the creek path.  These guys are migrating and just passing through.  The warmth brought out some insects too.  I've never seen a butterfly like this little one.  It was smaller than a dime.  Any clue what she might be?

Enjoy!

~ Robin

Yellow, Orange, and Pink

Among the fall flowers planted at the corner of the park several pollinators are busy.  Notably, the bright yellow of an "Orange Sulphur."   Not exactly the "orange" I think of on a fall day, yet pretty things to watch.

Enjoy!

~ Robin

Photo taken September 14th, 2012