Willowleaf Aster and other Late Bloomers * Late Summer Botany *

 

Living close to Ojibway Park in Windsor - I have really made an effort to find many of the rare plants that make Ojibway such a unique place in Southwestern Ontario. My latest find - Willowleaf Aster is somthing that I have wanted to see over the last few years, but since there are many types of Asters, the identification process is a little bit challenging!

I thought I had found this species last year, and I had posted my sighting on Inaturalist - but some botany experts suggested I had mis-identified the species based on the leaves along the stem. But this year, I think I have finally found a few patches in Windsor that I can confidently say that I have the proper ID. The flowers of this plant are a very light purple colour (almost white) and the colour can be made a little more apparent by underexposing the photos when photographing the plant. Allan W. from the NatureNuggets blog who is an excellent source of information gave me some tips on field marks to look for, such as the patterns on the underside of the leaves on this species. The subtle impression I get when I look at this plant is that its an Aster plant that have "rosemary-like" leafy stems throughout. They get willow-like as you move down the stem towards the ground.  

I almost goes without saying that the beautiful autumn flower show that is provided by Goldenrods and Asters makes the change of season (with its shorter days and colder temps) a little more bearable. 

Some other plants that are fun to find at this time of year are Fringed Gentian and Bottle Gentian flowers, that are found in some prarie habitats within the Ojbiway Park network. Fringed Gentian is not a perenial, so I find that looking for them each year requires a little bit of walking around in good habitat and they seem to show up in new places year after year. 

Backtracking a little to summer, I had found a pretty rare plant at Ojibway which is Whorled Milkweed! I was blown away to find this and I can't help but wonder if its naturally occurring or if it was planted?

Speaking of rare milkweed plants, I had observed a single specimen of Tall Green Milkweed this summer as well (around early-mid July).  I had gone back a few weeks later to see this plant in full flower, but sadly, its flowers or the top of the plant had been gnarled somehow, perhaps deer herbavory?

Anyway - I have been a little busy with work/life but I still value the chance I have to blog some of my nature sightings. I think writing really lets a person think, reflect, share ... put ideas down into words. Perhaps create memories or give someone else a chance to see what I'm seeing in my little corner of the world. I really think botany is a great hobby, and I've enjoyed learning from the blogosphere of Naturalists that I follow. 

Good Naturalizing!

Dwayne

Catching Up

Over the last month or two - I've been working on a home renovation project (basement project video 1, 2 ) - which has prevented me from doing more natural history exploration. Work and coaching obligations have piled up as well but even still - I have had some interesting highlights:

Little Yellow Butterfly - at McGeechy Pond near Erieau Ontario.
















King Rail - new life bird. I have read about this endangered bird on so many occasions over the last ten years of birding - so to finally cross paths with one was very special.  This photo below shows a juvenile bird. I left the area soon after seeing this bird so as to not disturb it. What a special part of our great lakes wetland ecosystem habitat and natural history. Hopefully more wetlands can be restored and give this species a chance at not becoming extirpated or worse - extinct.

Bottle Gentian - Seen while walking though Ojibway Tallgrass Prairie (provincial reserve). I looked for Fringed Gentian this year but did not find a single specimen.

Great Plains Ladies Tresses - Great story here - I had posted a photo of this species to Inaturalist a few years ago, and I had assumed I was photographing the more common nodding laddies tresses. I was informed that the great plains tresses species has a nice vanilla smell - and with this sighting - I was able to make note of the scent.

Backyard Warblers - Occasionally over the last month, I have been in my back yard and noted warblers (Palm and Nashville) in the hedgerow behind my back yard fence.

Swamp White Oak - I was at a playground on Windsor's east end with my kids and we walked through a short pathway that dissected a tiny forested area. One Oak tree had its branches hanging over the pathway and I plucked a leaf from the branch - I was interested in identifying the leaf by using I naturalist.


 

Black throated Green Warbler - Side on a sidewalk - most definitely caused by a window strike.

Two interesting articles / videos:

• Conservative Government in Ontario reduces environmental restrictions for gravel mines:   https://ontarionature.org/pits-and-quarries
• Youtube video: 10 reasons why birding is awesome   https://youtu.be/4QsDG_JyVXA 

Good Birding, Botanizing and Naturing
Dwayne



Life List Update
 Western Screech Owl 453 (AZ)
 Scaled Quail 454  (AZ)
 Graces Warbler 455  (AZ)
 Painted Redstart 456  (AZ)
 Yellow Eyed Junco 457  (AZ)
 Blue throated Hummingbird 458 (AZ)
 Elegant Trogon 459 (AZ)
 King Rail 460

Late Summer Birds, Plants at Ojibway Park, South Cameron Woodlot

New England Aster

I've had a few more cool birds show up in my back yard this week:

Wilson's Warbler (first for the year!),
Nashville Warbler,
American Redstart,
Swainson's Thrush,
Great crested Flycatcher,
Northern Flicker

Nothing super rare but still, nice birds to be looking at from one's back porch--- whilst bbqing.

Wilson's Warbler - A new yardbird!

Drama at the Hummingbird Feeder

Can you find two warbler species in this Golden Alexander Plant

Milkweed Tussock Moth Caterpillar

The tallgrass prairie at Ojibway, and behind my house has peaked in terms of the late summer wildflower show. I've attempted to photograph and label some of the species at the tallgrass prairie that I recognize.  Some botanical highlights this week are:

Tall Ironweed (7' tall)
Tall Sunflower (8' tall)
Prairie Dock (common along the edge of South Cameron Woodlot)
Bottle Gentian (aka Closed Gentian)
Big Bluestem
Prairie Cordgrass
Switchgrass
Indian Grass
White Boneset
Sneezeweed
Nodding Ladies Tresses
Joe-Pye Weed
Smooth False  Foxglove

Bottle Gentian (or Closed Gentian)

Nodding Ladies Tresses - Ojibway Park

I've walked through the tallgrass prairie at Ojbiway for years, and always found this time of year to be enjoyable. An ocean of colour from the late summer wildflowers and lots of tallgrass to walk through. This year might be the first year I've attempted to photograph and ID some of the grass species that are present. One tallgrass plant that I did not seem to locate yet is little bluestem. I will keep an eye out for it though.  

Indian Grass

Switchgrass

Big Bluestem

Prairie Cordgrass

Joe-Pye Weed

Sneezeweed or Swamp Sunflower

White Boneset

Smooth False Foxglove

I must admit that I derive great satisfaction at looking at a plant and knowing its name, and perhaps a little about it. Plants can have their own story as well. The Indian Potato above has tuberous roots that you could prepare like Potatoes. Boneset used to placed in peoples casts as they thought it would help heal broken bones. Bottle Gentian is a flower that never "opens up" only a few insects that are willing to wrestle themselves into the flower will exchange polinating services for nectar. 

I have two last bontanical goals for the year: Fringed Gentian and with a little luck ... Great Plains Ladies Tresses!

I'm open to corrections on any of the species identified here!

Good Birding, Leping, Herping and Botanizing!
Dwayne

Bottle Gentians were featured on the 1 cent stamp in 1977