Backwater - Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison
August
has arrived...it should still be June as far as I'm concerned but then
what I think won't change things so that's that. I am looking forward
to some time...maybe by mid Autumn, that my time will not be tied to
deadlines so much and I can once again slow down...take a guiltless nap
every once and a while...just stroll around the pasture or down the road
with no goal in mind - just chill out and relax. Boy that actually
sounds good!
In
the mean time I'm still prepping for a solo showing in early October at
the Pearson's Lakes Art Center in Okoboji, Iowa...I'll throw out more
information closer to the date though.
I've
been really struggling with a landscape here in the studio that did a
number on me...but I haven't removed it from the easel yet...maybe I
haven't given up on it yet? That happens; I'm sure I'm not the only
person that has run into this dilemma and it won't be my last either I
know.
Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison
Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium)
photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison
One
thing comes about out here when August rolls around - things are
visibly transitioning. The early to mid summer flowers are finishing
up...the Compass plants and Cup Plants are all in flower and maturing,
goldenrods are starting to bloom, the liatris are beginning to move
along too, the prairie clovers are about done, and the warm season
grasses are in flower or early stages of putting on seed. It's still
mid summer (I don't want to rush things) and the prairie is "Pollinator
Heaven" right now...and of course the hotter it gets out there - the
happier the pollinators seem to be!
Many types of Bumble Bees are busy pollinating
the Culver's Root (Veronicastrum virginicum) blossoms
photographs - © Bruce A. Morrison
A member of the Bacchini sub-family
of Hover Flies (family Syrphidae)
photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison
A member of the Hover Flies family (Syrphidae)
photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison
Painted Lady pollinating a Wild Bergamot
photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison
The
Culver's Root here was a big hit one evening down on the pasture...we
had lost a good clump to the new septic fields we had installed but
thankfully there are still enough to go around here. We had everything
from wasps to Bumble Bees to all kinds of Hover Flies...many of which
are quite different looking!
photographs - © Bruce A. Morrison
When
you have a lot of pollinators out and about you also get some predator
activity, and August is a particularly good time to see all types of
spiders out working their webs - especially great to see in the early
morning dew.
Pale Touch-Me-Not (Impatiens pallida)
photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison
We
also have a couple mid summer woodland types of native flowers blooming
here in the north grove right now. One plant I've seen repeatedly each
summer and never caught it in bloom is really putting on a good show
right now, and certainly welcomed by the local pair of Ruby-throated
Hummingbirds nesting in the yard! They are commonly referred to as
"Jewel Weed"; the type we have here are the Pale Touch-Me-Not - a fun
plant to show kids when the seed's ready to disperse! Just touch a ripe
seed pod and "POP" the sheath snaps open and the seed goes flying! This
is a fun plant to collect seed from.
White Snakeroot (Ageratina altissima)
photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison
Our other mid summer woodland bloomer is the White Snakeroot (Ageratina altissima),
a fairly common plant even in disturbed areas...which doesn't surprise
me seeing it in the old grove remnant here. Its a great plant for
pollinators and lasts well into Fall.
I
hope to get out more, not fuss so much about what's taunting me on the
easel, and enjoy what summer we still have to enjoy...the bugs aren't so
bad right now too so what better reason to get out there!
Thank
you for stopping by and visiting the blog - be sure and click on any of
the photos for a larger view - Have a Great Summer and see you on the Tallgrass!!!
