July 5, 2009
If it hadn’t been for the milkweed…
Last night in the near darkness along the riverbank as I was returning home from fishing I could have gotten a photo of the most beautiful Showy Milkweed except for two things; (1) I had my fishing rod in my hand and (2) I didn’t have my camera in my hand.
This morning before the sun heated up and the light became too harsh, I went back for a photo and couldn’t find the flower. Well, it might have become part of something’s diet overnight. However, had I not gone back there I would not have seen these Toadflax,
(Common Toadflax, Butter & Eggs, Linaria vulgaris)
or this Western St. John’s-wort (the native one, not the invasive),
(Western St. John’s-wort
Hypericum scouleri)
or this clump of Scarlet Gilia,
(Scarlet Gilia,
Ipomopsis aggregata)
this Brown-eyed Susan,
(Brown-eyed Susan,
Gaillardia aristata)
or get these photos of a Deptford Pink.
(Dianthus armeria,
Deptford pink)
I think I’ll go back tonight and look one more time for that Milkweed.
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Montana Outdoors 
The Western St. John’s is nicer than the stuff around here.
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Comment by iheartfilm — July 5, 2009 @ 3:52 pm
Yes, there are several St John’s varieties and it looks like it’s pretty hard to tell some of them apart. I try but I’m never quite sure and a lot of the plant sites seem to disagree.
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Comment by montucky — July 5, 2009 @ 6:10 pm
Wow. I have not seen some of these before.
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Comment by wildstorm — July 5, 2009 @ 4:17 pm
I keep running into ones that are new to me too. There’s an amazing variety out there! Thanks for visiting, wildstorm!
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Comment by montucky — July 5, 2009 @ 6:11 pm
Terry:
I never cease to wonder at the variety and beauty of your local flower collection. By the way, what critter dines on milkweed?
Chad
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Comment by Chad — July 5, 2009 @ 5:02 pm
This summer, more than ever before, I’ve also been amazed at the huge variety of wildflowers around here!
After thinking about it, probably nothing would eat the Milkweed, except the larvae of Monarch butterflies.
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Comment by montucky — July 5, 2009 @ 6:52 pm
I really like that first one,… what a lovely little yellow flower. but named after a toad? Doesn’t it make you wonder how they came up with names?
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Comment by Cedar — July 5, 2009 @ 5:45 pm
Once again, I can’t imagine who had the charter of naming flowers! It looks like a close relative of the snapdragon to me.
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Comment by montucky — July 5, 2009 @ 8:03 pm
You have the most unique flowers in your area! They are so pretty!
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Comment by Stacey — July 5, 2009 @ 7:18 pm
We seem to be having a bumper crop this year too. I can still think of a few more that I haven’t seen yet. Also saw two more today that are new to me!
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Comment by montucky — July 5, 2009 @ 8:05 pm
Each one is quite a find. I especially like the St. John’s Wort.
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Comment by Candace — July 5, 2009 @ 7:38 pm
I like the looks of it too. The color is pretty as well as the shape. I’ve seen some disagreements in the sites to which I go for identification though and so I’m not entirely sure of the exact variety.
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Comment by montucky — July 5, 2009 @ 8:09 pm
Such a great display for one walk. Your part of the world must be ablaze with color!
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Comment by Bo — July 5, 2009 @ 8:22 pm
It is this summer, Bo. There were about 6 more in that same small area that I didn’t mention. Perhaps I’ve just been noticing the flowers more this year.
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Comment by montucky — July 5, 2009 @ 8:28 pm
you may have missed the milkweed, but it definitely wasn’t a wasted trip. my grandmother used to have toadflax all over her garden… i wish i could get it to grow in mine!! love the show you shared with us today!!
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Comment by kcjewel — July 5, 2009 @ 8:58 pm
Winter or summer, it’s always worth a walk down to the river. It’s kind of my version of an amusement park. Rewarding though.
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Comment by montucky — July 5, 2009 @ 9:20 pm
Beautiful captures and such color! I really like the unusual looking Toadflax as if it is a liquid flower that pours. I’d love to have some Toadflax growing in my flower garden. Does it have other colors besides yellow–Butter & Eggs (that is neat!)?
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Comment by Anna Surface — July 6, 2009 @ 7:31 am
I think that’s the only color, but it really brightens things up where it grows. It is listed as an invasive weed in Montana where it is said to crowd out native plants. I have not seen this happening in this area, having seen only a few scattered plants over many years that don’t seem to be spreading at all. Although I’ve read that it was first introduced to this country in the late 1600 hundreds only 10 states list it as an invasive.
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Comment by montucky — July 6, 2009 @ 8:24 am
Dianthus armeria…. This is my favorite of the bunch! It sounds like something from Harry Potter. Beautiful portrait! Hope you are steering clear of the abundant crop of “skeeters”!
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Comment by Maureen — July 6, 2009 @ 6:49 pm
It is pretty, isn’t it! Just started to bloom. The skeeters aren’t too bad now at our house, but down by the river they are just terrible in the evenings! They treat Deep Woods OFF like barbecue sauce.
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Comment by montucky — July 6, 2009 @ 9:43 pm
Excellent series, Terry. I am particularly fond of the Butter-and-Eggs. I photographed them a lot last year but haven’t seen them yet this year. I better go have a look.
The Deptford Pinks are also excellent. Not an easy flower to capture well and you did it!
Heck, they’re all nice!
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Comment by edvatza — July 7, 2009 @ 6:58 pm
Thanks Ed! The morning light was just right for photos. The variety of flowers that appear along the river is surprising. I make it a point of going there (it’s walking distance) every week or so and there are almost always new ones growing.
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Comment by montucky — July 7, 2009 @ 10:27 pm