Herb Robert

The tiny flower of this plant, Geranium Robertianum, blooms reliably throughout the summer here and there at Thorne Swift Nature Preserve, where I first learned its name from Sally Stebbins. Since the name is that of my dear brother, Robert, who died too young, I haven't forgotten it. The name "geranium" derives from the Greek geranos, crane, because of the shape of the seedpod, like a crane's bill. Two pairs of these pods are visible in this photo, as is the ferny shape of the leaves. The flowers are small, five-petaled, and range through the pale pinks to white. It is a widespread plant, growing in Europe and Asia, and widely naturalized in the US. Formerly it was used in treating wounds, and there are now claims for it as a cancer fighter.
The article in Wikipedia deals with all the Roberts who might have provided the name for this plant, and the links at the end of the article add interesting facts and theories.
Although the plant can grow to a substantial size, I have only ever seen a small version, a few tiny flowers, dainty leaves, as in this photo taken at the nature preserve. However, in King County, Washington, it is classed as a noxious weed,  and seems to be able to eat up pastures or woodlands. The name "Stinky Bob" refers to the odor produced by several chemical constituents of this plant.

The Whippy Dip is Open, what flavor do you want?

A chocolate-dipped cone on a summer evening after a drive through the wooded fields of northern Michigan was just the ticket. We were taking my grandson to pick up his car, but when he found it had been leaking transmission fluid we left it in capable hands there and brought him back to borrow one of his mother's vehicles. So we went nowhere and back again and had a very pleasant time together.

Watercolor moon

Went out to dinner with grandson, home for a visit. All the way back, the beautiful vari-clouded sky was lit by the moon to the east while the twilight was still visible over the western woods.

The spiky beauty of the spotted knapweed

Here is a portrait of the little item that may obliterate my meadow. It actually is quite pretty in bllom--giving the field a lavendar sheen. It secretes a chemical which makes it difficult for the seeds of other plants to sprout. Its stems are tough and woody. It is the bane of ranchers all over this country, ever since it hitched a ride fro the far east. It has a very deep carrot shaped root , making it quite easy to pull; where you pull it, dozens sprout, but I still cannot resist. I don't think I should give up without a fight.

Symphony in blues and greens

I spent a lovely morning at the Thorne Swift Nature Preserve with the members of the Petoskey Regional Audubon Society. This fellow seems to have eaten his fill and was just resting peacefully in the pond. This nature preserve has lovely boardwalks that meander through much of what is essentially wetlands so you can see the plants and animals. Even a little bit of duckweed makes an elegant appearance here.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

An iPhone panorama made with the autostitch app. I will have to try more of these an include more foreground! It was a too-bright sunny day at the Park, but I still enjoyed our brief stop there.
Click on the picture to have it fill your screen!

The Greeting

As we drove into the parking lot for the views of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, here he sat. It was a lovely day in North Dakota, and greener than I have seen it before. Swathes of yellow sweet clover moved in the strong breeze,and gave off a faint sweet odor. The sun was too overhead for really great photos, but the place it so beautiful it ALMOST didn't matter.