Get thee to a prairie!
About five years ago, I wrote about June wildflowers on the dry prairie and expounded on the delights of the sensory explosion to be found there (see June 2009). Well, I cant help it, Im at it again. Just cant seem to get over this bounty of beautiful bunches of blossoms. So, this is your phenological task for this month GO TO A DRY PRAIRIE!! You shant be disappointed. Hastings Sand Coulee SNA and Grey Cloud Dunes SNA are two metro sites I can attest to. For a sneak preview of what youll find: hairy puccoon, large-flowered penstemon, New Jersey tea, prairie phlox, spiderwort, prairie rose, slender penstemon, prairie larkspur.
New Jersey tea
Photo: Karen Schik / FMR
Penstemon
Photo: Karen Schik / FMR
Prairie Phlox
Photo: Karen Schik / FMR
Wildflowers at the Hastings Sand Coulee SNA
Photo: Karen Schik / FMR