While mowing today, I noticed the common milkweed blossoms were beginning to open up. There are other milkweed plants, including the swamp milkweed which has long narrow leaves and bright pink flowers.
Swamp Milkweed
Picture of the Day for June 17, 2017
During the part of the day when the sun was shining, the bees were busy collecting pollen. And right now in my woods, the Virginia Waterleaf is blooming and attracting a lot of pollinating insects, like these honey bees.
Honey Bees at Work
Picture of the Day for June 13, 2017
This native iris, commonly called northern blue flag, survived the flower eating deer long enough to bloom, maybe since they typically grow in the water or near the water edge.
Blooming Blue Flag
Picture of the Day for June 8, 2017
On these warmer days, it doesn’t take long for flowers to open and fade, like the irises. And some of the wild roses have open and dropped petals to ground already, their full glory lasting for only a glimpse of time.
Short Time in Glory
Picture of the Day for June 7, 2017
A sign that summer is approaching in the north, is when the wild roses begin to start to open up and those blossoms add more pink to the road ditches along with the wild geraniums.
Wild Roses Arriving
Picture of the Day for May 24, 2017
The nodding trilliums have a little better chance of keeping their blossoms dry since they hang underneath the leaves. They also seem to better survive becoming a snack for the deer which wander across my lawn since the flowers are more hidden and not as showy.
Nodding Trilliums Hiding
Picture of the Day for May 15, 2017
These small pale blue violets don’t stand out and get noticed as much as the larger and darker violets, but they are pretty “weeds” on my lawn. I end up having patches on my lawn were I skip mowing to leave some the flowers while blossoming.
Pale Little Violets
Picture of the Day for May 4, 2017
The little five pointed Spring Beauties won’t open fully unless in bright sunshine and these were just starting to open up when the clouds lessened and let the sun shine through.
Spring Beauties in Springtime
Picture of the Day for May 3, 2017
After all the rain, and with the sun out most of the day, the grass will be growing quickly. Several of my neighbors have already mowed the first time this spring but I had standing water in spots. Besides the water, the lawn is showing some yellow from dandelions and yellow rocket as well as blues and purples from violets. But hidden in the grass, with blue streaked white mini blossoms an eighth to a quarter of inch across, some Thyme-leaf Speedwell can be spotted if looking closely. There is a native variety but mine is the non-native species so it is considered a weed but it does have cute little flowers.
Thyme-leaf Speedwell
Picture of the Day for April 29, 2017
One of the more abundant shrub in Wisconsin bogs is the Leather-leaf, which the leaves are leathery in texture. And it is a good thing their little bell shape blossoms hang down or they would get filled with water the next few days.
Blossoms of Leather-leaf
