In Bloom - Wildflower Meadow in Nichols Park

  Monarchs feeding on Milkweed - part of the reason we have the Meadow, to provide healthy food for pollinators of all kinds.             American Bellflower Campanulastrum americanum Bellflower family (Campanulaceae) http://illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/am_bellflower.htm     Royal Catchfly Silene regia Pink family (Caryophyllaceae) https://illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/royal_catchflyx.htm  (  Although this could also be Fire Pink, Silene Virginicana   )         A two-fer here, a couple of native flowers growing together Culver's Root Veronicastrum virginicum Snapdragon family (Scrophulariaceae) https://illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/culverx.htm Starry Campion Silene stellata Pink family (Caryophyllaceae)  https://illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/starry_campion.htm

      Soapwort Saponaria officinalis Pink family (Caryophyllaceae) Also called Wild Sweet William, and a bunch of other names.  We planted this a couple of years ago late in the season, this is the first year that it bloomed.  At the time, we were told this was a native wildflower; now we know better.  Since this is not a native plant, it will soon be relocated out of the Meadow.   Purple Prairie Clover Dalea purpurea Bean family (Fabaceae) https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/ppr_cloverx.htm  In the beds outside the Meadow, at the south entrance.   Butterfly Milkweed Asclepias tuberosa Milkweed family (Asclepiadaceae) https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/btf_milkweedx.htm Also at the south entrance to the Meadow   A Bird in the Bush - a resident of the Meadow This one you have to know what you're looking at.  Notice the birdhouse on the left, then look slightly lower in the branches on the r...

  Common Dogbane - Apocynum cannabinum - Dogbane family (Apocynaceae) http://illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/dogbanex.htm   Butterfly Milkweed - Asclepias tuberosa - Milkweed family (Asclepiadaceae) http://illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/btf_milkweedx.htm   Garden Yellow Loosestrife - (Lysimachia vulgaris) - Primulaceae family A nice looking flower, unfortunately this is considered a highly invasive species in North America.  It is of Eurasian origin, and if it becomes established it can spread agressively.  We will be removing it from the Wildflower Meadow in the near future. https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Invasives/fact/GardenYellowLoosestrife.html    

Prairie Trillium - Trillium recurvatum - Lily family (Liliaceae) https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/pr_trillium.htm In the center of the photo is a bird building a nest on the stalks of Purple Meadow Rue Meadow Anemone - Anemone canadensis - Buttercup family (Ranunculaceae) https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/mdw_anemone.html Foxglove Penstemon - Penstemon digitalis - Snapdragon family (Scrophulariaceae) https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/fx_penstemonx.htm Prairie Alumroot - Heuchera richardsonii affinis - Saxifrage family (Saxifragaceae) http://w.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/pr_alumrootx.htm Greater Celandine - Chelidonium majus - Poppy family (Papaveraceae) https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/celandine.htm Purple Meadow Rue - Thalictrum dasycarpum - Buttercup family (Ranunculaceae) https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/savanna/plants/pp_mdrue.html Yarr...

Shooting Star - Dodecatheon meadia - Primulaceae (Primrose family) https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/shootingstarx.htm Jacob's Ladder - Polemonium reptans  https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/jacob_ladder.htm Wild Geranium - Geranium maculatum - Geranium family (Geraniaceae)  https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/wild_geranium.htm Wild Columbine - Aquilegia canadensis - Buttercup family (Ranunculaceae)   https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/wild_columbine.htm Prairie Hyacinth - Camassia angusta - Lily family (Liliaceae) https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/pr_hyacinth.htm Mayapple - Podophyllum peltatum - Barberry family (Berberidaceae) https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/mayapple.htm Spring Beauty - Claytonia virginica - Purslane family (Portulacaceae)  https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/spring_beauty.htm Photos Via Dan Brown