Yesterday we went to Wiregrass Lake to monitor.
Giant Sunflower was blooming. It is not endangered, but beautiful none-the-less.
And Big
(It is in the center of the photograph - twice as tall as the surrounding plants)
Shortly after taking this, Penny stepped on a yellow jacket nest (as she is want to do). We had to run all the way back to the parking lot to get away from them. No one was stung - probably because it was such a cool morning.
So, we decided to walk down the road to a field we have previously named "Gentian Meadow".
Along the way we marveled at the changes we have seen over the years on this particular corridor site.
There has been quite a bit of land management - tearing out swaths of Buckthorn and topical herbicide application. It is now open and filled with native wet meadow plants.
Privately owned and unmanaged land nearby looks like this.
Buckthorn completely fills the understory.
Sure enough, the Fringed Gentian was in all it's glory.
All through the meadow
The Ladies Tresses were blooming as well.
As we left for home a beautiful Dragonfly bid us farewell.
