Some Prairie Wildflowers

[cohan]

Lol..all about perspective, I suppose (or lack thereof?)
I think the thing for me is that I was used to the shade form, growing up, since that occurs on the farm, and I was not wandering around roadsides in the area in those days (except very close by) so I was completely unfamiliar with the sunny form and it looked like a different plant altogether (as soon as I looked it up I knew, of course; most images around in fact are of the sunny form).. Whereas, if you always knew both as the same species, you'd just think of them that way...

[Lori S.]

A few others...
Seneca snakeroot, Polygala senega with flowers not quite opened - a new one for me:
   

I found one Penstemon nitidus in that area, and a few Eriogonum flavum:
 

More Hedysarum boreale:
 

Views, with a large buffaloberry (Shepherdia canadensis) in first photo:
 

[Lori S.]

This looked interesting... I think it's bracted bog orchid, Coeloglossum viride - must check back in a few days:


There are colourful tracts of astragalus and oxytropis all over now...
Oxytropis viscida; the close-up shows the minute yellowish glands that make it sticky:
 

[cohan]

Very interesting--we just don't have these plant communities, even in open areas in ditches etc; I really need to try this year to find some interesting prairie plant communities without going super far, I do want to try the Battle River area...
I did find the Polygala last year in some local roadsides, it was new to me, too, but none of those bright peas (Oxy monticola, which is lovely, but not bright, and some I haven't id'd, maybe Astrag with inconspicuous flrs, then the tall Hedys and Astrag).. I'd be thrilled if I ran into an Eriogonum around here...lol, I've only seen it in Drumheller area.. Neat to see the H boreale in grass, since I only know it from foothills/mountains, and its been in barer places...
If you happen to pass through there at the right time for seed of any of  the Erio, Hedysarum b and the Oxytropis viscida, I'd be very interested!

[Hoy]

I am hooked, Lori! I have a soft spot for any pea plant. Both Oxytropis viscida and Hedysarum boreale are beautiful!

[Lori S.]

Today in the park... I think these are all colour variations of Oxytropis viscida... (If they are not, please tell me!)
             

Heres's an update on the single bracted bog orchid (Coeloglossum viride) I saw - not too showy, which I expect is the only way an orchid can survive in a popular park!


Heart-leaved alexander, Zizia aptera:


 

[Lori S.]

Lathyrus ochroleucus; Hedysarum alpinum... and a cute furry little lupin whose ID puzzles me right now:
       
 

[cohan]

We have tons of those subtle bog orchids! Though yours seems to have wider, more rounded leaves than those here...
I'm surprised to see Hedysarum alpinum so early, though maybe I remember the timing incorrectly...
I haven't been able to get out botanising-beyond the acreage and short walks on the farm- a)its been raining every day all month b) I decided if I'm to have any hope of progress in the garden I have to stay home more...lol.. but its hard not to get out there when I can see things are coming into bloom .... Maybe I should not garden..... oh yeah, and c)have to mow every 5 minutes try to to keep from being overgrown...

[stephenb]

Lori: Great pictures as usual. I posted a couple of pictures of two colour forms of the Coeloglossum viride (Frog Orchid in the UK) from the top of a local mountain last year! Yours is a much more vigorous plant

http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=5723.msg160195#msg160195

Zizia aptera: I planted this last autumn, but it didn't make it   I've grown Zizia aurea for a number of years...

[James McGee]

If you ever see seed on the Cymopterus or Allium textile (it's never been correct the times I've tried it) I would love to swap, beg, beg...!!

Stephen,  Prairie Moon Nursery offers seed of this species.  James

http://www.prairiemoon.com/seeds/wildflowers-forbs/allium-textile-textile-onion/?cat=249

[McDonough]

If you ever see seed on the Cymopterus or Allium textile (it's never been correct the times I've tried it) I would love to swap, beg, beg...!!

Stephen,  Prairie Moon Nursery offers seed of this species.  James

http://www.prairiemoon.com/seeds/wildflowers-forbs/allium-textile-textile-onion/?cat=249

Judging from the 2 photos of their seed offering, it is misidentified and definitely not Allium textile.  Their photos are showing a form of Allium canadense.

Here are some photo links that show what Allium textile looks like:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Allium_textile_(2).jpg
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ALTE
http://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/allium-textile-2.jpg

[Lori S.]

Penstemon nitidus, and Phlox hoodii, clinging to an eroded clay bank, in the river valley:
 

(Excuse the Blackberry photos... actually better than some with my regular camera!!)