Megan's Nature Nook
Nature Notes, Phenology, Photography, Fun Facts, Trips, Maybe Even a Bad Joke or Two... and More!
Something I look forward to each summer is the blooming of the prairie flowers. Blooms of various colors, shapes, and textures peeking through the sea of green vegetation. As I walk through the prairie this time of year, I can’t help but stop and marvel at the beauty of all the flowers. There are many, many different plants that call the prairie home, but here are a handful of ones you might encounter. When you’re admiring these beautiful plants, take a little closer look and see what tiny creatures may be visiting, too! Compass Plant (Silphium laciniatum) The Compass Plant is part of the Aster family. It blooms during the summer and into the fall. It is the tallest of the prairie plants, some reaching 12 feet tall! It has very hairy stems with large leaves. The leaves are oriented North to South to collect the maximum amount of sunlight, this orientation is how the Compass Plant got its name. The sap can also be used as a chewing gum substitute. Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Butterfly Weed is part of the Milkweed family. Milkweed get their name because of the milky looking sap, although instead of the milky sap, Butterfly Weed has clear sap instead. Butterfly Weed blooms in the spring and summer and is a host plant for Gray Hairstreak and Monarch caterpillars. Many other butterfly species also enjoy visiting this plant for its sweet nectar. Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) Black-eyed Susan is part of the Aster family. It blooms in the summer and fall. Black-eyed Susan got its species name hirta which means “hairy” or “rough” because of its hairy stem. In the fall, American Goldfinches and House Finches enjoy feasting on its seeds. Black-eyed Susan is a host plant for the Silvery Checkerspot caterpillar who camouflages itself by attaching plant parts with silk to itself for protection. Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron annuus) Daisy Fleabane is part of the Aster family. It blooms spring through fall. There are at least seven species of Fleabane in Minnesota. Depending on the species it can have 40-100 petals per flower and the petals can be either light pink or white. Gray-headed Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) Gray-headed Coneflower is part of the Aster family. It blooms in the summer. After pollination, the cone dries to a light gray color, giving it its name. The cone has a strong, pleasant smell when crushed or rubbed. Lead Plant (Amorpha canescens) Lead Plant is part of the Pea or Bean family. It blooms in the spring and summer. Lead Plant can live for centuries, not growing larger than three feet. The roots go down 10 feet below the soil and has been given the nickname “Prairie Shoestring” because of the roots. Lead Plant gets its name because it was found growing on top of areas with Lead Ore deposits. Purple Coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia) Purple Coneflower is part of the Aster family. It blooms in summer and fall. Many people also know this plant by its scientific name, Echinacea. Purple Coneflower is used in many herbal remedies. While blooming, many butterflies and bees are attracted to the plant for its nectar, and in the fall Goldfinches enjoy their seeds. Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium) Rattlesnake Master is part of the Carrot family. It blooms in the summer. It has a large rootstock that stores water during droughts. Rattlesnake Master has thick, fleshy, leaves with small spikes on them, similar to that of a yucca plant. Rattlesnake Master gets its name because its root was once used to treat rattlesnake bites. Native Americans also used the leaves for weaving things like sandals and baskets. Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) Wild Bergamot, also known as Monarda or Beebalm is part of the Mint family. Members of the mint family have a characteristic square stem. Wild Bergamot blooms in the summer. Bees, butterflies, beetles, and hummingbirds all enjoy visiting this flower’s blooms. Crushed leaves and flowerheads have a strong scent that is similar to that of Bergamot, a small citrus tree native to Europe. Culturally this plant has been used to make tea for respiratory and digestive ailments. The essential oil from Wild Bergamot is an important ingredient in Earl Grey tea. White Wild Indigo (Baptisia alba) White Wild Indigo is part of the Pea family. It blooms in the spring and summer. This plant appears more as a bush with its large shape and woody structure. The leaves of White Wild Indigo are greenish-blue and blacken in the fall. When it blooms, the flowers at the base of the flower stock bloom first and blooming continues up the stock. It has very large seed pods that usually stay attached to the stem through winter. Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) Common Yarrow is part of the Aster family. It blooms in the summer and fall. The Genus name Achillea comes from a legend that Achilles used the plant during the Trojan War to treat bleeding wounds. Yarrow is used medicinally in many cultures. The fern-like leaves of the Yarrow plant have a strong aroma. Wildflowers can be a bit daunting since there are so many of them! Here are a few characteristics to look at to help you identify them.
Tips for identifying wildflowers: Look at the
If you need some help with your flower ID, check out these great resources. Wildflowers of Minnesota by Stan Tekiela What's Doin' the Bloomin'? By Clayton & Michele Oslund https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/
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Warm weather of Spring means new growth of plants and the start of the foraging season! There are a variety of plants that emerge this time of year, including Garlic Mustard! I became familiar with Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) while doing invasive species removal during the summers at various jobs. It’s not a plant you want in your woods, but it can be made into delicious pesto with little effort. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade... or uh, when life gives you Garlic Mustard, make pesto! I had heard pesto made from the plant can be quite delicious, but I hadn’t tried it yet. So, this year when the Garlic Mustard was showing to be a bountiful harvest, I decided to give it a try and am glad I did! As with any wild ingredient that you are foraging, you want to be sure you’re harvesting the right thing. Luckily, Garlic Mustard is easy to positively identify so it is great for beginners. Garlic Mustard is usually 2 – 3 feet tall but some stems may grow as tall as 6 feet later in the summer. The plants are usually single stemmed with heart or triangular shaped, deeply toothed leaves. The roots are “S” shaped. In early spring clusters of small, white flowers with 4 petals will appear at the top of the stem. The biggest giveaway for Garlic Mustard is its smell. If you aren’t sure you have the right plant, crush a leaf between your fingers and it’ll smell like garlic, hence giving it part of its name. (It gets the mustard part of its name from being in the Mustard family). Garlic Mustard is an invasive species, meaning it is not originally from North America and competes with other native plants for resources. It is native to Europe where it was often grown in gardens to be used in salads. By harvesting the whole plant, root and all, you will help to control the spread of this invasive species which is important to maintain healthy forests. Once you have located Garlic Mustard, you can begin harvesting! Be sure to grab near the base of the plant and pull gently so you get the entire plant, including the root. Bag up your plants on site so when you are carrying them through the woods you aren’t helping to spread this invasive species. Discard of any plant parts you do not use in the garbage in a sealed bag. Be sure to only harvest Garlic Mustard that you know has not been sprayed or chemically treated in any way. Wooded roadways can be home to Garlic Mustard, but it is best to not forage near the road due to possible contamination. The best time to harvest Garlic Mustard is when the flowers are just starting to form, but before they go to seed. If the plant has already gone to seed, you can still use it, but it will have a more bitter taste. Now that you have your plants, it’s time for pesto! Garlic Mustard Pesto Recipe by Kristen Smith - A Better Way to Thrive Blog Ingredient List 1 cup washed and drained Garlic Mustard leaves, moderately packed 1 tablespoons fresh herbs like basil, oregano, or thyme (optional) 1 large garlic clove ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese 2 tablespoons toasted sunflower seeds (pine nuts, almonds, or walnuts may also be used) ½ - 1 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil ½ teaspoon salt Dash black pepper 1. Place all ingredients, using ½ cup olive oil, in a food processor. 2. Turn on and process until smooth. You may need to stop and scrape the sides of the bowl once or twice. 3. Check the consistency of your pesto and add more oil if desired, pulsing the processor to combine. Makes about 1 cup depending on how much oil you use. After it was all blended together, I taste tested and added more ingredients as necessary until it tasted how I wanted. The recipe is more of a base and you can tailor it however you would like. Store pesto in the refrigerator, it also freezes well for later use. Some people freeze it in ice cube trays so they can take out a small amount at a time. Pesto Uses
If you’re not familiar with pesto you might wonder, “how do you eat this stuff?” Pesto is very versatile and can be added to many dishes to brighten them up. Here are a few ways to add it to the menu.
The possibilities are endless! Next time you're out on a hike keep you eyes peeled and noses sniffing for some Garlic Mustard to make this delicious pesto! You can help remove invasive species, maintain healthy forests, and you get pesto out of it! There's no downside to that! Happy foraging! The snow has melted and the trees are just starting to leaf out, now is the time for spring ephemerals! Spring ephemerals are the first perennials to come up in the spring. They take advantage of the short time when sunlight reaches the forest floor before the leaves of trees begin shading it. This past weekend I lead a Spring Flower Hike at Oxbow Park in Byron, Minnesota. Although just a week before we had a few inches of snow, there were plenty of Spring ephemerals for us to see! Here are some of the flowers we saw this weekend in southeastern Minnesota; species and bloom times can vary depending on location and the weather. Take a hike and see what you can find in your neck of the woods! The following flowers are just a handful of spring ephemerals you can find. Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) Bloodroot gets its name from the red juice in its stems and roots. The flowers open during the day and close a night. Their leaves act kind of like a blanket, wrapping around the flower during the night and cloudy days, and uncurling on sunny days. Bloodroot is often one of the first flowers to emerge. Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia) Wood Anemone, also called Mayflower, usually has white flowers, but can also be pink. They reproduce by rhizomes (underground rootstock) so are usually found in large groups. It can take five years or more for a plant to reach flowering age. Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) Dutchman’s Breeches gets its common name from the flower looking like a pair of pantaloons or pants. Because of the oddly shaped flowers, only certain insects with long enough mouth parts can reach the nectar, although some insects have found a way in by chewing holes in the flowers to reach the nectar easier. White Trout Lily (Erythronium albidum) White Trout Lily gets its name from the mottled leaves that resemble a brown trout. They reproduce mainly by bulbs and can be found in large groups. The Yellow Trout Lily looks almost identical, except for its yellow flower. Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) Spring Beauty has a white flower with pink veins. These veins act as “runways” to guide in insects for pollination. It reproduces from small potato-like tubers, often growing in large bunches. Swamp Buttercup (Ranunculus septentrionalis) Swamp Buttercup gets its name from the “cup” shaped yellow flowers and how it likes to grow in wet soil. The flower does not have much nectar, but produces a lot of pollen attracting pollen eating insects. Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense) Wild Ginger has heart shaped leaves with long, white hairs covering the stems. They grow low to the ground and their flowers are very close to the ground to accommodate non-flying insects like beetles who pollinate their flowers. Wild Ginger roots smell like ginger when it is crushed, although it is not the same ginger used in cooking. Virginia Bluebell (Mertensia virginica) Virginia Bluebell buds start out pinkish in color and turn to a blueish/purple as they bloom. The unusual coloring of a white bluebell has been found and is caused by a genetic mutation. Wildflowers can be a bit daunting since there are so many of them! Here are a few characteristics to look at to help you identify them.
Tips for identifying wildflowers: Look at the
If you need some help with your flower ID, check out these great resources. Wildflowers of Minnesota by Stan Tekiela What's Doin' the Bloomin'? By Clayton & Michele Oslund https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/ Once again, just like that, Christmas has come and gone. The hustle and bustle has settled down as we make our way into the new year. Just as the holidays come and go, so do our Christmas trees. If you’re like my family and get a real tree, here are a few ideas of environmentally friendly ways to dispose of your tree after the holidays. Mulch It – Bring your tree to participating Home Depot stores to have it recycled into mulch for free! (Check out their website to see if your local store is participating). Or, check out your local Public Works Department to see if they have a mulching program. Compost – There are many different Yard Waste and Compost Facilities that take Christmas trees. Look up participating facilities on Earth911.com and check your local Public Works Department. Give it to the Fish – Christmas trees can create structure and habitat for fish and help to slow erosion. Before tossing your tree in a lake, check with your local Natural Resources Department to see if they have a Christmas tree program. Let the Animals Play – Christmas trees can be great enrichment for animals in zoos and other wildlife facilities. The trees are something new to explore and play with, keeping their bodies and minds active and healthy. Ask your local animal facilities to see if they can use your tree. Leave if for the Critters – One of the easiest things to do it just put it outside! The birds, squirrels, and rabbits in your yard will thank you for a little extra shelter. Bonus points if you have it near the feeders for added protection from predators. Before doing any of the above, make sure you remove any lights, ornaments, tinsel, and any other decorations. Just because the holidays are done, doesn’t mean your tree has to be! Enjoy the smell and ambiance of a real tree during the holidays, then know that it is being put to good use once you’re finished with it. Going on a walk through the prairie you’ll most likely come across one of these, which are easiest to spot once the leaves and grasses start to die down. You may have stopped to look and wondered: gall, what is this? Well, it’s an insect home! This gall is formed during the Goldenrod Gall Fly’s life cycle. Here’s a quick rundown of all that happens inside that little gall: Female Goldenrod Gall Flies lay an egg on the tip of an emerging Goldenrod in the spring. When the egg hatches, the larva burrows its way down to the inside of the stem. The action of chewing and saliva from the larva stimulates the plant to produce more growth hormones, and as a result the gall starts to form. This gall will then provide food and shelter for the growing larva throughout the summer, fall, and winter until it is ready to emerge in the spring. In fall, as temperature decrease, the larva will produce a glycerol, an anti-freeze. This allows a majority of the body tissue to freeze, but keeps the cells from freezing - even on chilly days like today! They spend the winter as little larva popsicles, just hanging out and waiting for spring to arrive. Something else they do in the fall in preparation for their escape from the gall in the spring is to dig an exit tunnel right up to the outer layer of “skin” on the gall. They leave this outer layer so that they will still have protection from the elements throughout the winter. Once spring finally rolls around, the warmer temperatures signal the larva to go into a pupa stage, and then finally transform into the adult fly. This is where things get interesting. In order to get out of the gall, the fly must break through the outer skin of the gall. The fly anchors itself at the end of the exit tunnel, then pumps a special part of its head full of body fluids, inflating it like a balloon. The “balloon” causes the outer skin of the gall to break open and then the fly can pull itself out. The fly will rest and give time for its wings to inflate and dry. Then it is off to find a mate and start the process over again. The adult flies live for only about two weeks and don't eat during that time. They are not very good fliers, and mostly walk as their mode of transportation. Who knew so much was going on inside of that little gall? This was even the condensed version! If you would like to learn more in depth about the galls, and the life cycle of a Goldenrod Gall Fly, take a look at this article, Bug-sicles in the Class Room: Demonstrating freeze tolerance with larvae of the Goldenrod Gall Fly! by Doug Collicutt. He even talks about an interesting little freezing and thawing experiment you can try with Gall Fly larva! The gall is a pretty safe place for the larva to hang out for almost a year of its life, but there are some dangers they can still endure. Some insects, like wasps, will lay their eggs in the gall and the wasp larva will eat the gall fly larva. There is a beetle that will burrow in the gall for a tasty treat. Black-capped Chickadees, Downy Woodpeckers, and some other small birds can peck into the gall to get a tasty little snack. I have also heard that the larva can be used for ice fishing bait, but I have yet to test that theory myself. Maybe they would be a good protein packed snack for humans, too..?!! You can try it and let me know how that goes! Next time you’re out for a hike in the prairie, keep your eyes open for galls. Check to see if any of them have been pecked at by birds, or if they’re still safely awaiting the arrival of spring. Goldenrod Gall Fly Galls are not the only galls out there. There are different kinds of galls that can look very different in size and shape because they are created by different species. Not only are they on Goldenrod plants, but they can be found on other plants too, including trees! Who knew that something so small could have something so complex going on inside of it? Little natural wonders like galls often get overlooked. So, go out and enjoy the Great Outdoors! See what you can discover! |
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