Yesterday we monitored at Campbell Prairie. It is an area that is off limits during the Karner Blue butterfly season. This is the first place they were re-introduced several years ago, but the population is not considered established well enough to allow any more disturbance than is necessary.
It was a foggy morning.
The normally invisible spider webs were outlined in dew.
There are three subpopulations of Soapwort Gentian there. Two were doing very well. We'll have to keep an eye on the third.
The flowers stay tightly closed and the bees have to force their way inside to collect the nectar. There are few other flowers available at this time of year, though - a good motivation for them to work hard. Winter is approaching all too quickly.
Lovely pictures. And interesting that even plant monitors are not allowed in there during that critical time. Fun fact about the bees having to work there way into the honey pot.
ReplyDelete