A few days ago, I published a blog entry with a couple of images from a local prairie that I just found and have been checking out. Since that time, I have been back out and have been able to spend some quality time there. Here are a few more images from my 2 trips to this area:
This first image is a flower that I’ve photographed several times, but the first time I’ve found one close to me:
Spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis)
This next image is the same Spiderwort plant, but was taken from a “side view”. Amazing what moving the feet a few inches will do to the photograph! This is one thing I always stress to my students whenever I’m teaching photography classes or conducting a photo workshop. And not only moving side-to-side, but also moving up or down.
Spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis), side view
As in the last post of images from this Prairie, I’m including another one with a butterfly. Butterflies, bees, and dragonflies are very abundant at this location. This next wildflower is a “lifer” for me, so I have done a bit of research on it. The Hoary Puccoon grows 6″-12″ tall, and has abundant tubular flowers that are orange-yellow. It’s leaves point upward and are very hairy in appearance. The name “Puccoon” is an Indian name and it is said that native Americans used the flowers for a dye:
Hoary (or, Orange) Puccoon (Lithospermum canescens)
And this post’s last featured wildflower is also a “lifer” for me. The Prairie Blue-eyed grass can grow to 2 feet tall, but usually is much shorter. This plant was about 12″ tall. The flowers are small, 6-pointed blue stars and it’s leaves are grasslike, stiff, upright pale green. I was particularly attracted to this wildflower, mainly due to it’s small, dainty size and the lavendar color:
Prairie Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium campestre)
So these are 3 more wildflowers from my new-found prairie. I plan on revisiting this area soon to see what else I can find. Right now, we are forecast to have rain for most of this week, so as soon as the weather calms down, I’ll be back out there checking to see what the rain has helped to grow!