Tag Archives: fall color

Photo of the Week – November 7, 2013

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Forests are not the only habitats that have beautiful leaves in autumn.  Here are two photos of a common prairie plant, wild bergamot (aka beebalm or Monarda fistulosa).  Both photos were taken yesterday in a small restored prairie.

Restored Prairie at The Leadership Center in Aurora, Nebraska.

Colorful leaves of wild bergamot in a restored prairie at The Leadership Center in Aurora, Nebraska.

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More leaves, different plant, same prairie.

More leaves, different plant, same prairie.

As is usually the case, you have to look a little closer to see the beauty in a prairie as compared to forests or other “show off” habitat types.  It’s not a lot of work, though, and is usually worth the effort!

Photo of the Week – September 28, 2012

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During the last couple of weeks, the weather and prairies have both made full transitions to autumn.  I’ve been able to grab a little time here and there to snap some portraits of the fall prairie.  I hope you enjoy them.

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Canada wild rye (Elymus canadensis) stands out against a backdrop of gold and green prairie.

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A jumping spider peers at me from the stem of a beggarstick flower in a restored wetland.

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Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) – long since done flowering – is still an attractive flower in the autumn prairie.

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Stiff goldenrod (Solidago rigida) contributes strongly to the cacophany of yellow flowers in autumn prairies.

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Heath aster (Aster ericoides) is super-abundant this year in some of our prairies, and many pollinators – including this fly – appear to appreciate it.

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False boneset (Brickellia eupatorioides) is one of the deepest rooted plants in the prairie, which allowed it to flower and produce abundant seed even in this very dry year.

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