Three flowers from today's walk

Just a few of the flowers I came across today while walking the abandoned railroad grade (now a dirt road) along Crooked Creek from the bridge at the Ive’s Run entrance and at the Muck.

First is the gorgeously rich looking Turk’s-cap Lily.



Its bright orange stands out from the mundane whites, yellows and pale blues of the standard wildflowers. (Queen Anne’s Lace, Cone flowers, bergamont, etc.)

Then in the cultivated fields on the Game Management Area we had the Sunflowers all turned to face the rising sun.



They haven’t gone to seed yet, but already they’re being visited by flocks of red-winged blackbirds and grackles. (Apparently, the blue jays know enough not to waste their time down amongst the stalks. They were up in the trees where the cherries and wild grapes are starting to ripen.)

Finally, over at the Muck, the cattails have grown nice and plump. Unfortunately, purple loosestrife has made vast inroads in the marsh and threaten to choke out some of the native plants.