June 7, 2024

It was a beautiful afternoon to walk through the prairie. We had a picnic dinner on the quartzite rocks at the edge of the oak savanna, and it took much longer than anticipated to walk the short distance across the prairie to our destination because there was so much to observe.

Compass plant (Silphium laciniatum) is starting to develop its yellow flowers, which will rise above the surrounding plants on tall stalks and resemble small sunflowers.

I was excited to see the scaly start of a white wild indigo (Baptisia alba), which is one of my favorite plants.

Early meadow rue (Thalictrum dioicum) is still flowering, and the white female flowers are now more pronounced.

Wild quinine (Parthenium integrifolium) has unique clusters of white blooms, attracting a variety of pollinating flies. This plant has many medicinal uses and is used as a treatment for malaria, dysentery, and burns.

Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) is blooming across the prairie now, pleasing both me and the bumblebees.

Leadplant (Amorpha canescanes) is also close to blooming, and it may be the prarie plant with my favorite leaves and blooms. I love the delicate silvery leaves that slowly open from their early folded form, and the flowers will be tall and purple with bursts of bright orange, like nature's fireworks. Leadplant is an important host for butterflies and moths.

The intertwined clusters of closed Ohio spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis) flowers look otherworldly.

We are still awaiting the full emergence of the pink petals of pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida). I hear this plant is blooming in nearby areas of the prairie, but I have yet to see it.

This prairie dock (Silphium terebinthinaceum) leaf has been predated on by the endangered silphium borer moth (Papaipema silphii). Silphium is a genus of plants that includes prairie dock and compass plant. The silphium borer moth does not harm the entire prairie dock plant. This moth species is sensitive to fire, and populations can be supported by alternating which sections of prairie are managed through prescribed fire each year.

I will be out of town for the next week and will be eager to see how the prairie has changed when I return. During this very active time of year, the prairie can look quite different from one week to the next. Every day there is something new to see.