Poke Milkweed

 
I love milkweeds! The flower shapes are so unusual.

There are quite a few kinds- at least 13 in the US. I've seen 8, I think, but I don't have pictures of all of them. Yesterday I found one of the more uncommon ones in bud.

It's called poke milkweed, Asclepias exaltata. I can't really figure out why it has that common name. The best I can figure out is that the young plant looks similar to pokeweed. When it's this size, the two plants don't look anything alike.

Poke milkweed has the largest flowers of any of the species I've seen. The leaves are also large, and tapered at both ends.



The flower clusters are very loose and droopy. Yesterday, I only saw buds. They are almost big enough to be like flowers, but trust me, they aren't open yet.



I took this picture several years ago, but it does show the flowers opened.



More flowers tomorrow! (unless something spectacular happens) I have some other look-alikes for the cat's ear to show you.

	See Three Milkweed
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Jenks Creek Again

 
I had just one case to do today, so I took Maggie and we went for a little hike afterwards. We followed the section of North Country Trail that parallels Jenks Creek. I've taken you there before, a couple of years ago. See Rediscovering Jenks Creek

We need rain really badly. There was hardly any water in the creek. It wasn't even flowing, really, so I didn't bother to take a picture. Here's the trail bridge. Maggie seems to be inspecting the decking.



Although the day was starting to really heat up, the woods was shady and cooler than the open areas. I was glad we went today since the next few days are supposed to be brutally hot.



We walked as far as Sterling Marsh. If that sounds familiar, it's the general area where our trail club built the big boardwalk over the past few years. That's the next section south from where I went today. The north end of the marsh has open water, and it's where Jenks Creek arises. It's a beautiful place, and eventually we'll be creating accessible trail to this point for birdwatching or just soaking in the peace.



Much to my surprise, I saw several unexpected plants, so I'll be sharing those tomorrow. Good stuff!

We walked just under three miles. Pretty short, but long enough, since the humidity was starting to rise.

	See North Country Trail Boardwalk Celebration
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Kreativ Blogger Award

 
It's been a long time since I've received a pass-around blog award. Kind of fun! I received the Kreativ Blogger from Linda Ann Nickerson, at Practically at Home. Thanks, Linda!



I'm supposed to begin with answering ten questions:

1. What is your favorite song? I never can do favorite things. Hmmm. "The Happy Wanderer," or "Bed is Too Small for my Tiredness," or "Shine, Jesus, Shine," or...
2. What is your favorite dessert? This one is easier. Maybe. Moose Tracks ice cream, or rhubarb pie, or cherry pie.
3. What ticks you off? People who lie to me. Don't try it. Seriously.
4. What do you do when you’re upset? What do you think? I take a walk... it's my solution to everything.
5. What is/was your favorite pet? Well, I've blogged about this. Can't choose between Chips and Butchy Boy I.
6. Which do you prefer, black or white? Can't I have black and white? Chiaroscuro is so dramatic!
7. What is your biggest fear? Of being useless? Not sure.
8. What is your attitude mostly? Cynical- I have to fight it all the time.
9. What is perfection? "Every good and perfect gift comes from above, from the Father of Lights, in whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." James 1:17 (Phillips)- I don't usually say much about my faith on this blog, but it's one of the questions, so I answered.
10. What is your guilty pleasure? this week? Doing w...a...y too many online jigsaw puzzles.

Then I'm supposed to tell you ten random facts about myself. What? Didn't I just do that? OK, I suppose they weren't random.

1. I was once kissed by a camel. Wonder if I can find the picture that proves it?
2. I was the same height I am now in 7th grade, but 40 pounds lighter.
3. I used to have 20/10 eyesight. I miss it.
4. My least favorite color is pink, followed closely by red.
5. I'm tired of talking about me.
6. My list of "heros" is really, really short.
7. I need a shower.
8. I can't think of anything else.
9. Maggie says "hi."
10. I took all the recyling stuff to the drop-off sites this week. Big Hooray!

Now I have to pass this along to seven other blogs. Wow. This is a big project. I'm going to spread it to some blogs which are somewhat out of my inner circle of readers, just to encourage folks to look at some blogs they may not see all the time.

1. One of my favorite dog blogs is Two Greyhound Town with the adventures of Joey and Scout.
2. Chase and More is a family's journey with a much-loved son with Down Syndrome.
3. Canadian Doomer probably won't accept the award, but she and her family are working hard to live closer to the land and have a smaller "footprint."
4. Rebecca at New York Traveler because she keeps going to places I know and love.
5. Ohio Biodiversity, a serious nature-lover's blog
6. For some serious philosophy, visit my friend Fred at Photon Farms.
7. Dickster's Random Thoughts will give you anything from music to politics, to stories of his son who attends a special school.

OK... I've done about as much with this game as I can!

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Ellen and Joan Take an Excellent Bike Ride

 
Today was awesome! The weather cooled down significantly, and Ellen and I went for a bike ride on the Hart Montague Rail Trail. It's the closest one to us, so it involves a little travel, but not too much.

A lot of it is lovely shaded sections like this one.



We rode from the north end at Hart to south of Shelby, where we took a break at Country Dairy for lunch. This is a large local dairy operation which does a big business based on their organic products with no rBST or other hormones. They used to have an ice cream stand. Now it's a full restaurant, gift shop, and educational tour program. I had a Turkey Bacon Ranch wrap and Ellen had a Turkey in the Slaw panini.



Then we rode south farther, and turned around in Rothbury. On the way back we stopped at Country Dairy again. I'm sure you know why... for ice cream! I had Nutty Java Moo, and Ellen had Mooey Gooey Fudge.

With a little digital magic, I bring you both of us and the wrong end of the cow.



All together, we rode 30 miles. Not bad, eh?

No pix, but we saw: Rose-breasted grosbeak, female goldfinches, cowbird, cardinal, song sparrow, brown thrasher, robins, and a grouse. Also saw a black swallowtail butterfly. Usually, on a bike, by the time you stop and turn the camera on the wildlife is long gone! Not many wildflowers in bloom: Hoary vetch, the cat's ear I featured a couple of days ago, and Canada anemone.

Only one word needed: wonderful!

	See A Bike Ride See Ellen and Joan Ride
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Woodland Horsetail

 
I had a chance to photograph another kind of Equisetum lately. This is one of my favorites because it's so lacy. This is Equisetum Sylvaticum, Woodland Horsetail.



This one also grows in layers like the Meadow Horsetail. Here's a top view.



It's easy to identify. The branches are subdivided. That's what makes it look so lacy.



That makes five kinds of Equisetum I've showed you! Still at least one more kind that grows locally.

	See E is for Equisetum
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