Late Summer at the Fen

Summer is definitely moving along. The late summer flora is getting into full swing out at the fen. We're starting to see the goldenrods and asters in bloom. The yellow flowers in the photo above are wingstem, a species that we did not have at the Fen until we began seeding it. Today it's abundant in some of our savannas and degraded wetlands.

Stiff White Aster (Solidago ptarmicoides)

Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium)


Ironweed (Veronia fasciculata)

We have several other plant species that are conspicuous at this time of year whose presence is mostly or entirely a result of our seeding efforts. The upland stiff aster required little effort on our part beyond throwing some seed around. Rattlesnake master was more stubborn. We have been trying to encourage it for over a decade now. It is finally showing up- we may even be able to collect seed on site this year. There were about a half dozen ironweed plants when I first started working out at the Fen, all in an inaccessible part of the preserve. Today this species is expanding in may of our restored areas, and its striking dark purple blooms are readily visible and avidly visited by insects.

Speaking of insects, the dragonflies are putting on a spectacular show at the moment.

Calico Pennant (Celithemis lisa)


Common Whitetail (Platythemis lydia)


Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis)
Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicolis)