Pink Mystery Wetland Plant (does anyone know it?) at High Park / October 5, 2019 (6 hours later; mystery revealed)

I’ve really been scratching my head over the identification of this plant which was growing by itself on the shore of Grenadier bond on this 7 degree, cloudy morning.

If you know what it is, please let me know. Thank-you!

Many thanks to a reader who informed me that this is Spider Flower (Tarenaya hassleriana formerly Cleome hassleriana) ; a species of flowering plant from South America. Also called Pink Queen or Grandfather’s Whiskers.

Other botany:

Mushroom
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)
Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans)
Large Milkweed Bugs on Milkweed
Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
Winged Euonymus also called Burning Bush (Euonymus alata)
Purple-stemmed Aster (Symphyotrichum puniceum)
New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
2 colours of New England Aster (the pinker ones are a garden variety)
Amethyst Aster (Symphyotrichum x amethystinum)

Park scenes:

Gray Squirrel

Species list: great blue heron, Canada goose, gadwall,  mallard, wood duck, red-tailed hawk, hairy woodpecker, downy woodpecker, blue jay, black-capped chickadee, white-breasted nuthatch, golden-crowned kinglet, house sparrow, red-winged blackbird, northern cardinal, American goldfinch, white-throated sparrow, song sparrow.  (18 species)

House Sparrow (male)
Great Blue Heron
Gadwall
Mallard (female)
Wood Ducks
Wood Duck (female)
Wood Ducks (female)

This morning’s group:

BIRDWATCHING ANECDOTE

Alan Outram went to great pains one time to trick Jim Baillie in the identification of some eggs. His budgie had laid eggs and then deserted them. Alan decided to put the eggs into whatever old nest he could find in the woods. The next day he took his eggs and nest to the Museum’ Department of Ornithology. When he saw Jim, he said, “Sorry to bother you, but do you have any idea what kind of eggs these are?” With only a one second glance, Jim replied, “They look like budgerigar’s eggs. How come you put them in a chestnut-sided warbler’s nest?”

from: omlet.co.uk

Miles Hearn

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