Pinewood Castle

On the Nature Path

Last week I felt antsy to get out and photograph some of the late wildflowers along the path. Much to my dismay, many had fallen victim to the big mowing machine the city send out periodically. Gone were the evening primrose. Gone were the butter & eggs.

Here's some of what we did enjoy:

The butterfly weed gone to seed and ready to blow around - yes, it's related to milkweed!

The last of the hazelnuts -

Michaelmas Daisy, right on time -

Leaves half green, half red -

Pine needles all over. Well, they were more all over before the mower -

Leaves dappled in sunlight -

AUTUMN
by Florence Hoatson
Yellow the bracken,
Golden the sheaves,
Rosy the apples.
Crimson the leaves;
Mist on the hillside,
Clouds grey and white.
Autumn, good morning!
Summer, good night!

On the Nature Path

Can Fall be coming already?

The goldenrod blooms

Galls form

Milkweed pods harden

Fresh green acorns drop

Berries (and a grasshopper) adorn foliage

Crab apples ripen

And squirrels leave evidence of a hazelnut feast!

On the Nature Path

A few Sundays ago we took the whole family to the farm to explore the trails by the Mississippi. What a wider variety of plants were there! I am not sure what some of them are -

I thought this was Mullein but in my book the Mullein is yellow -

False Sunflower?

Butter-and-Eggs

Thimbleweed?

Spotted Knapweed, I believe -



Bittersweet?

Gooseberry

Mushroom growing on split rail fence

The view

My crew

On the Path

Wimp that I am, the heat and humidity have kept me off the nature path lately.Combined with the deer flies that have nothing better to do that buzz in circles around your head while you walk - it's enough to keep me inside with the a/c for a few weeks!

Before it got too bad around here we were still keeping track of the blossoms. The day that Mary came to visit we saw many interesting things -

Butterfly Weed -

Daisy Fleabane -

Some kind of caterpillar that encloses itself with leaves. I would love to know what this really is - the same thing was happening to the leaves on my sunflowers that week.

And the token Big Fat Toad!

On the Nature Path

A nature walk first thing Monday morning was a refreshing way to begin the week. A few years ago I would have noticed the bugs and little else but with the help of curious children and a field guide we can now identify much more than just mosquitoes and deer flies . . .

Timothy going to seed

The Prairie Rose (again)

Canada Hawkweed

"Leaves of three, leave them be!"

Harebell - my favorite!

Spreading Dogbane

Oak Apple Gall

Hoary Puccoon - a stange name for such a beautiful flower!

Monday on the Path

A few more wildflowers are at their peak this week.

The white campion is whiter than white. We love when these flowers go to seed and make a little vase with the seeds inside. So fun!

I am not sure what these seed pods are, but I pick them off and tell the kids, "Here's a penny for you!" THey collect them and use them for admission to the new fun ride.

Here's some common yarrow

And there are fuzzy wuzzy caterpillars everywhere!

Tuesdays on the Nature Path

Last June it was so hot and dry that many wildflowers did not bloom so it is a real treat to see some of our old favorites and see some we have not noticed before like this prairie rose. The children are complaining less about being weaned from their scooters and bikes and seem to understand and enjoy how much more they see when they walk. We save the scooters and bikes for other trails with fewer blooms!

Prairie Rose

Vetch

Solomon's Seal

Mating dragonflies

June Bug (the ones that bang at your windows at night!)

On the Path

When we look out of our front windows we see green green and more green because the is a city park across the street. It is mostly full of oaks dying from oak wilt with a paved walking trail around it, but the wildflowers growing along the path in June make up for the eyesore of tree stumps.

Although the children love to ride their bikes or scooters on the trail I often make them walk so they can listen and look. Otherwise they might will miss the

Spittlebug

Bird's Foot Violet

Tent Caterpillars

The symmetry of ferns

Baby Crab Apples

And many flowers I am not finding in my copy of Wildflowers of Minnesota field guide! Tell me if you know what these are -