Wildflower Blooms

Spring has been cooler and late this year; consequently this forb is about 2 to 3 weeks delayed.  From our walk this morning there was Penstemon digitalis - commonly known as Smooth Penstemon.

A member of the snapdragon family this showy native to the prairie is also called foxglove or beardtongue.  Native Americans and folk-healers have made use of this plant for medicinal purposes for both people and animals.   

On our pollinator habitat this is the first species to materialize in large quantities.  And there is an abundance of this blooming beauty. Acres upon acres of the stuff.  This flower appears during late spring or early summer for about a month and then it’s gone.  

Long-tongued bees, including honeybees, bumblebees, miner bees, butterflies, Sphinx moths, and hummingbirds favor this plant.  The name Beardtongue is a consequence of the hairy reproductive parts found within the flower.

Wildflower Walk

From our walk this morning there is this - one of the first species to make an appearance in very large quantities.

Acres and acres of this blooming beauty - smooth penstemon - Penstemon digitalis. 

This flower materializes quite suddenly (seemingly out of nowhere) during late spring or early summer for about a month and then it’s gone.  A showy member of the snapdragon family and native to the prairie it is commonly called beardtongue or foxglove.

Native Americans and folk-healers have made use of this plant for medicinal purposes for both people and animals. 

Long-tongued bees, including honeybees, bumblebees, miner bees, butterflies, Sphinx moths, and hummingbirds favor this plant.  The name beardtongue is a consequence of the hairy reproductive parts found within the flower.

Wildflower Walk

Meet - Penstemon digitalis - commonly known as Smooth Penstemon. 

A member of the snapdragon family this showy native to the prairie is also called foxglove or beardtongue.  Native Americans and folk-healers have made use of this plant for medicinal purposes for both people and animals.    

 

 

On our pollinator habitat this is the first species to materialize in large quantities.  And there is an abundance of this blooming beauty. Acres upon acres of the stuff.  This flower appears during late spring or early summer for about a month and then it’s gone.  

 

Long-tongued bees, including honeybees, bumblebees, miner bees, butterflies, Sphinx moths, and hummingbirds favor this plant.  The name Beardtongue is a consequence of the hairy reproductive parts found within the flower.

 

Foxglove

Fifty-six days post burn there is this - one of the first species to make an appearance in very large quantities.

Acres and acres of this blooming beauty - smooth penstemon - Penstemon digitalis.  

This flower materializes quite suddenly (seemingly out of nowhere) during late spring or early summer for about a month and then it’s gone.  A showy member of the snapdragon family and native to the prairie it is commonly called beardtongue or foxglove.  

Native Americans and folk-healers have made use of this plant for medicinal purposes for both people and animals.  Long-tongued bees, including honeybees, bumblebees, miner bees, butterflies, Sphinx moths, and hummingbirds favor this plant.  

The name beardtongue is a consequence of the hairy reproductive parts found within the flower.

Wildflower Walk

Meet - Penstemon digitalis - commonly known as Smooth Penstemon. 

 

 

A member of the snapdragon family this showy native to the prairie is also called foxglove or beardtongue.  Native Americans and folk-healers have made use of this plant for medicinal purposes for both people and animals.   

 

On our pollinator habitat this is the first species to materialize in large quantities.  And there is an abundance of this blooming beauty. Acres upon acres of the stuff.  This flower appears during late spring or early summer for about a month and then it’s gone.  

 

Long-tongued bees, including honeybees, bumblebees, miner bees, butterflies, Sphinx moths, and hummingbirds favor this plant.  The name Beardtongue is a consequence of the hairy reproductive parts found within the flower.

 

Beardtongue

From our walk the other day there is this - one of the first species to make an appearance in very large quantities.  

Acres and acres of this blooming beauty - smooth penstemon - Penstemon digitalis.  

This flower materializes quite suddenly (seemingly out of nowhere) during late spring or early summer for about a month and then it’s gone.  A showy member of the snapdragon family and native to the prairie it is commonly called beardtongue or foxglove.  

Native Americans and folk-healers have made use of this plant for medicinal purposes for both people and animals.  Long-tongued bees, including honeybees, bumblebees, miner bees, butterflies, Sphinx moths, and hummingbirds favor this plant.  

The name beardtongue is a consequence of the hairy reproductive parts found within the flower. 

 

More Native Blooms

Yesterday I posted some photos of the green-up ten weeks following our prescribed burn.  From our walk recently are some additional native prairies species that are blooming.....

Compass Plant

Foxglove Beardtongue

False Sunflower

Purple Prairie Clover

Pale Purple Coneflower

Foxglove



click on images for a closer look

Nope.  That is not newly-fallen snow in the tall grass prairie.  It happens to be Smooth Penstemon - Penstemon digitalis. 

 

A member of the snapdragon family this showy native to the prairie is commonly called foxglove or beardtongue.  Native Americans and folk-healers have made use of this plant for medicinal purposes for both people and animals.  And when it blooms...BAM!  There it is. 

 

 

 

On our pollinator habitat this is the first species to materialize in large quantities.  And there is an abundance of this blooming beauty. Acres upon acres of the stuff.  This flower appears during late spring or early summer for about a month and then it’s gone.  

 

Long-tongued bees, including honeybees, bumblebees, miner bees, butterflies, Sphinx moths, and hummingbirds favor this plant.  The name Beardtongue is a consequence of the hairy reproductive parts found within the flower.

Beardtongue

Nope.  That is not newly-fallen snow in the tall grass prairie.  It happens to be Smooth penstemon - Penstemon digitalis.

click on the flowers to enlarge

A native to the prairie it is commonly called beardtongue.  Native Americans and folk-healers have made us of this plant for medicinal purposes for both people and animals.

And when it blooms...BANG!  There it is.  And there is an abundance of this blooming beauty.  And then before too long the flowers are gone.

Wildflowers

Wildflowers are beginning to bloom.

First the milkweed...

Followed by the penstemon...

And the false sunflower...

 click on images to enlarge

Hairy Beardtongue

Penstemon hirsutus - Hairy Beardtongue or Foxglove.  What a totally cool name.

click on image to enlarge

This species can be either lavender, pink or violet.  

It is absolutely everywhere following the spring burn. And the bees love it....

Wildflowers

Smooth penstemon - Penstemon digitalis.

click on image to enlarge

A native to the prairie it is commonly called beardtongue.  Native Americans and folk-healers have made us of this plant for medicinal purposes for both people and animals.