Wildflower Close-ups at Cottonwood Flats: August 2021

Around the middle of November each year I put away my wildflower guides and know that, from now on, they won’t be needed. Not until that first Coltsfoot or Skunk Cabbage appears in late winter. From now on it will be looking at the skeletal remains of what once were glorious flowers.

Mullein (Verbascum thapsis)
Common Burdock (Arctium minus)
Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis)

I guess that that is the reason that I head out each day to a wildflower laden location in summer such as Cottonwood Flats. The city has done a good job restoring this area which used to be a dumping ground for snow from city streets in winter.

Downy Woodpecker (male)

MYSTERY PLANT

I will identify it at the end of the post.

Some botany:

Mountain-ash (Sorbus aucuparia)
Viper’s Bugloss (Echium vulgare)
Honeysuckle (Lonicera)
Tansy (Tanecetum vulgare)
Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron rydbergii)
Wild-cucumber (Echinocystis lobata)
Canada Thistle (Cirsium pratense)
Field Sow-thistle (Sonchus arvensis)
Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)
Crown Vetch (Securigera varia)
Red-cedar cone (Juniperus virginiana)
Teasle (Dipsacus fullonum)
Common Burdock (Arctium minus)
Tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
Apple (Malus)
Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)
Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) with Monarch Butterfly
Cottonwood (Populus deltoides)
Tansy (Tanecetum vulgare)
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis)
Lady’s Thumb (Persicaria maculosa)
Rose Hips
Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
Mullein (Verbascum thapsis)
Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea)
Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor)
White Campion (Silene latifolia)
Evening Primrose (Oenothera)

MYSTERY PLANT

The triangular leaves of Eastern Cottonwood.

Cottonwood (Populus deltoides)

NATURE POETRY

Golden Yellow leaves
Fall from the tree outside.
They mark the end of summer.
The end of a dream. -Lily Mandrell

Miles Hearn

1 thought on “Wildflower Close-ups at Cottonwood Flats: August 2021

  1. Lisa Volkov

    Yes–the Cottonwood Flats. I guess I should have known what tree that leaf was on!
    I love this place. And its wonderful flora. Thanks, Miles!

    Reply

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