I arrive at the Arboretum just as the grounds open at 8 a.m. I relish the ease of finding parking at this early hour and savor the quiet before more visitors arrive. Skies are mostly clear and it’s already 74 degrees; we’re in for several days of summery weather.
A number of plants are still blooming in the Prairie Garden, including harebell, pale gentian, purple coneflower and blue aster.
Harebell, pale gentian, purple coneflower and blue aster bloom in the Prairie Garden.
Also in bloom are two common prairie grasses — big bluestem and yellow prairie grass. The former is distinguished by the turkey-foot shape of its seedheads and the bluish-green color of its stems. The latter’s signature feature is the golden-yellow flower spikes that emerge in late summer. Both can reach heights of 8 feet, and both are currently blooming (yes, all true grasses produce flowers!).
All grasses, including big bluestem and yellow prairie grass, produce flowers.
The moon above the Bennett-Johnson Prairie is a waning gibbous; in a few days it will be a waning crescent. When the moon is C-shaped it’s waning (heading toward new); when D-shaped it’s waxing (heading toward full). Think of “C” for cat and “D” for dog; cats are generally smaller than dogs, so “C”= shrinking while “D”=growing!
The gibbous moon is waning.
Jewelweed is blooming along the boardwalk, and the bees are loving it. They climb right inside the trumpet-shaped blossoms to drink the nectar; they are important pollinators for this plant. Jewelweed gets its name from the way water beads up on its leaves and sparkles in the sun. It’s also known as touch-me-not, so named because the ripe seedpods burst apart when touched, scattering seeds.
Jewelweed, or touch-me-not, is a favorite of bees and has a clever way of scattering its seeds.
Lime-sized green balls are dropping out of trees and lie scattered on the ground. Nearby is evidence of some creature’s hard work to get at what’s inside. These are black walnuts, a food source for many animals, including squirrels. They must first gnaw through the outer green husk, then chew through the hard shell to get at the nut meat at the center. Black walnuts are also harvested and eaten by humans, though their strong, earthy flavor is not to everyone’s liking!
Black walnuts are eaten by many creatures, including squirrels and humans.
I have been contributing Nature Notes posts to the Arboretum’s blog since 2017; this is my 100th post. I love the opportunity to visit regularly through all seasons, paying close attention to the Arboretum’s wildlife, birds, native plants and insects. On your next visit, I encourage you to likewise take special note of the Arboretum’s wild side. There is no end to the potential for discovery and new learning!
Holly Einess is a Minnesota Master Naturalist Volunteer. To learn more about the University of Minnesota Extension’s Master Naturalist program, visit their website.