Crow’s Nest: Cool wildflowers highlights

By Daniel Barringer, Preserve Manager.

Yesterday we held a hike to see some early autumn wildflowers. Although many plants are starting to go dormant there is still a lot to see. Above, bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii), and below, common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)—with milkweed bugs adding a little extra color.

Bottlebrush grass (Elymus hystrix) arches with sharp awns.

Below, turtlehead (Chelone glabra). Early instars of Baltimore checkerspot butterfly caterpillars are obligate feeders on this plant so if you want to have that butterfly this native plant must be present (fortunately you can also buy it at a nursery).

Even something as common as the non-native red clover (Trifolium pratense) has exquisite flowers close-up.