The lupines are in bloom, but the wild lupines are harder to find in Minnesota and Wisconsin as the large-leaved lupine which is native to western US have become invasive after gardeners introduced it the area.
Colorful Lupines
Picture of the Day for June 20, 2023
Some of the road ditches in upper Wisconsin are lined with colorful lupines, although most of them are not the native Wild Lupine, but are instead the Large-leaved Lupine which is native to the western states. The wild lupine, native to eastern North America, has leaves that are divided into 7 to 11 leaflets, where as the large-leaved lupine are grouped 9 to 17.
Lupines in Bloom
Picture of the Day for June 24, 2022
Some of the roadsides are showing a display of purple, pink and white from the lupine blossoms.
Colorful Roadside
Picture of the Day for June 13, 2020
The road ditches near the south shore of Lake Superior had splashes of color from the lupines, but most of the lupines spotted are not native to the area and are another of the pretty ‘escapees’ flowers.
Roadside Lupines
Picture of the Day for June 24, 2019
The bees were busy in the blossoms of the lupines and the flowers add a splash of blue-violet color in the fields.
Spotting the Lupines
Picture of the Day for June 13, 2018
To me, lupines used to mean vacation time, as before I only spotted them when I traveled closer to Lake Superior. But now they are planted in a patch just a mile away so don’t need to go very far to see the pretty blossoms.
Lovely Lupines
Picture of the Day for June 26, 2017
Since lupines prefer sandy soils, I don’t have any growing in my heavy clay soil, so it is a treat for me to see road ditches filled with the colorful display. Large-leaved Lupine is native to the Western US as well as a popular cultivar introduced by gardeners in the Midwest and has become invasive in areas. The Wild Lupine, found in the Eastern US is the only host plant for the Karner Blue butterfly caterpillar. Habitat loss has led to the decline in plants, and put the Karner Blue on the endangered species list.
Lovely Lupines
Picture of the Day for March 1, 2013
Boy did my mini-vacation fly by in a blink of an eye! And I didn’t even take a picture those three lost days of February.
There is a hint of sun but it hasn’t been able to break through the clouds yet and if it does, the ground would still be white so I need some purple and green for today’s picture and the field of lupines fit the bill.
Field of Lupines
