Fall Flowers

The flowers of Gentiana andrewii - Bottle-Gentian - emerge from August thru October.  Found in wetlands and shoreland habitat this plant's blooms are characterized by a compact cluster of large oval closed flowers at the top of an axis of unbranched leafy stem.

Also known as the closed gentian due to the closed flowers.  Nevertheless, bumblebees will force themselves into the flower by means of pushing-apart the petals. 

click on the image for a closer look at the bumble bee

 

If the interweb is to be believed there are about 60 gentian species in North America, with approximately 23 different kinds to be found in the eastern half of the country.  Everything I've read has suggested that the color of this flower should be blue.  Around here the color ranges from pure white, to rose to violet.

Go figure....