At Jennings Prairie the best flowers bloom from mid July through August but I was there on the last day of June and found a few summer flowers to brighten the foggy morning.
Above, the bristly hairs on the black-eyed susan’s (Rudbeckia hirta) stem are the second clue to its identity.
Below, a very early whorled rosinweed (Silphium trifoliatum) attracted my attention, showing off its whorled leaves and purple stems.
Sundrops (Oenothera fruticosa) are one of my favorites. They resemble evening primroses but open during the day instead of at twilight.
I’ll return in early August for dense blazing-star, Culver’s root and goldenrod.
(photos by Kate St. John)
Summer flowers are relative, depending on your location….I was in the White Mountains in New Hampshire a little over a week ago, and there were large patches of Canada Mayflower and bluets blooming….it was technically Summer at the time, but those are certainly spring flowers for us.