Prairie Wildflowers

Some photos from a recent visit to Prophetstown State Park. If you haven't been there it's worth a visit. It's different from many other state parks I'm used to; the emphasis is more on prairies than woods, although there are both. But I like that -- as much as I love mountains and forests, I've also always been drawn to grasslands and prairies, and I like the work they've done to establish prairie plants on so much of the land.

July Woodland Wildflowers, Celery Bog

Unidentified, and very tiny, wildflower

This wren chattered at me and would not leave the path -- perhaps it was trying to get me away from it's nest and/or young -- at any rate, I snapped a quick picture and obeyed his/her desire to be left alone.

Agrimony (Agrimonia sp.)

Tall Bellflower (Campanula americana)
This was new to me this year -- tall spikes of blue flowers scattered through the damper woodlands of Celery Bog -- really a delight.

Solomon's Seal, fruit (Polygonatum canaliculatum)

Touch-me-not, Jewelweed, or Wild Impatiens (Impatiens sp.)
Sap from this plant is good against poison ivy.
It's called touch-me-not because the seed pods explode rather forcefully from even the slightest touch when fully ripe. Great but harmless way to startle unsuspecting friends!

Spiderwort (Tradescantia sp.)