"Out & About" Photo Blog: 2nd Marsh -- June 20th, 2011

Went to the marsh again today. I love to see the changes since my previous visit. That's one reason I keep going back to the marsh-- plus it's so close to home. The parade of wildflowers continues. As one flower loses its place on center stage, the one that was in the wings makes its appearance.

The Dames Rockets are fading now and less common species are appearing in smaller numbers. Though some seem to spread almost everywhere (like the Dames Rocket), most only appear in localized areas.

The Cow Parsnip is going strong now. There's one patch of it-- it's one that doesn't seem to spread easily or maybe it hasn't been in the marsh long.

Forget-Me-Nots... another one I only see in one area.

The Yellow Flag Iris are still at the Beaver Pond but they're fading fast.

Today there were two, but only two, Blue Flag Iris at the pond. The mottled light makes for poor images.

The Beaver Pond is covered in Cattails... both sides of the boardwalk.

Some of them are getting ready to flower. In the next two shots you can see the male (top) and female (bottom) parts of the Cattails. If you're interested...

Reference: http://www.primitiveways.com/cattail_pollen_pancakes.html

When the plant sends up its new shoots, it also produces flowers. The upper portion of the cattail spike carries the male flowers and the pollen. The part we see in dried arrangements is the female part, and it will produce seed. The male flowers are short lived, tightly clustered, and small. What they lack in size they make up for in volumes of yellow pollen. When pollen is available, the top of the cattail spike looks like a fuzzy yellow finger above the green, partially sheathed cattail. The plant is wind pollinated, and the powdery pollen is quick to disperse with the slightest disturbance from wind or from eager gatherers. Once the pollen has launched itself into the air, the male flowers fall away, leaving the upper part of the spike bare.

Seeds can land almost anywhere thanks to birds or the wind. This one ended up in the crotch of a tree about 8 ft off the ground. Plants do catch my eye when they're in unusual places.

Canada Anemone...

Fleabane is scattered around the marsh.

An egg-shaped fungus-- at least at this early stage.

Just looking at the flower, this one could easily be mistaken for a Wild Rose. But the large maple-like leaves indicate that it's a Purple-Flowering Raspberry (aka Red-Flowering Raspberry). Thanks guys.

This one is a Wild Rose but it wasn't in the marsh. I went over to The McLaughlin Wildlife Reserve to see if there were any waterfowl at the pond but no luck.