I have a few more summer wildflowers pictures from the cache my prairie restoring friend Gary gave me. The prairie he planted several years ago now continues to expand on its own through self seeding. It is a joy to see in all seasons but especially in late summer and fall.
This variety of prickly pear cactus grows, suprisingly, to many Minnesotans in the southwestern corner of the state in places like Blue Mounds State Park. I must have grown it in the backyard of my former oak shaded house for twenty years. It never flowered. I gave a cutting to Gary, who planted it on a sunny south facing slope, near his newly restored prairie. Two years later it had many of these beautiful yellow flowers. It had found a proper home.
Nice pictures, but how come I can't touch the wild parsnip?
ReplyDeleteOOOPS! Some people have a skin reaction to this plant. Its really ugly. It you are hot and sweaty, brush against it and its a bright sunny day (sunlight is essential), the end result is a bad burn and often a scar forevery. THUS DONT TOUCH. In this respect is an ugly weed spreading throughout our country in ditches, grassland and forest edges
ReplyDeleteI really like the prickly pear, I'm trying to grow it here. You can make jelly from the fruits left after the blooms.
ReplyDeleteAh, I did not know that. That is very good information to have. I'll have to go back and study the picture again now!
ReplyDeleteI love the prairie flowers. And I'm so glad the cactus found the right spot (with your friend's help).
ReplyDeleteThe prickly pear is so pretty! I just saw a recipe for prickly pear jelly on someone else's blog recently...can't remember whose at the moment...
ReplyDeleteA friend invited me over in the spring to photograph some of her flowers. She had this prickly pear, like your photo. Here in Tennessee. It was gorgeous. Visited a blog yesterday that was demononstrating making the jelly. If I figure out which blog I will leave another comment here.
ReplyDeleteMy sister has a prickly pear and it bloomed like crazy. Beautiful monarch there. :c)
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting about the wild parsnip causing a rash - I didn't know that.
ReplyDeleteA few years ago, while on a long bike ride, I saw a bunch of cactus like that growing on a sunny slope by the river. My husband didn't believe me, and I took him back to it - we were both amazed to find it growing in Illinois - this must've been what it was.
Thanks again for all the great learning lessons! I love being able to identify all the prairie flowers on the side of the road, as I've always wondered what so many of them were called.
Hi Troutbirder. That nasty wild parsnip or cow parsnip as it's called here is a menace in my pasture. Luckily, I'm not allergic to it.
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed your wild flower posts.
Marnie