Raccoon Creek (Week 8)

We continued our weekly hikes at Raccoon Creek State Park Wildflower Reserve on May 16, and found lavender clouds of waterleaf blooming throughout the flood plane. Even more wild columbine was in bloom at Shafer Rock. But the mayapple blooms and most of the violets had disappeared, leaving a forest of lush green.

Crab spider.

I wonder if the curious bumps on these fern leaf pinnae are insect galls? 

Waterleaf.

Ground beetle.

When we got home, my son and I looked up this butterfly in my photos and discovered it's a red admiral. I advised him to dig to find out more about red admirals. With fewer flowers blooming, we wondered what this butterfly was looking for. We learned that they don't drink nectar often, but are a butterfly that prefers tree sap. We also learned that the host flower for their caterpillars is stinging nettle, which is what this plant appears to be. Then we found that in this particular photo, the butterfly may have been caught in the act of laying eggs. So for me, this is a great example of how there is a story behind everything. And if you take the time to be both observant and curious, you may uncover one.

Blackberry. 

Common cinquefoil.

Bluets.

Mayapple going to seed.

Bear corn.

Wild geranium.

Wild columbine.

Wild columbine.

False Solomon's seal.

Waterleaf.

Solomon's seal.

Dame's rocket.

Star of Bethlehem with lightning bug.

Few-flowered valerian.

Waterleaf.

Waterleaf.

Few-flowered valerian.

Black mustard.

Dame's rocket.

Wild geranium.

Stink bug.

White violets.

Snipe fly.

Daisy fleabane.

Bizarre leaf galls.

Wild columbine.