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Al Sabo 14
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23428 hits
At one moment you are in the middle of a deep woods, you see a break overhead in the path ahead. You step out and see this. -
Al Sabo 12
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21318 hits
Another specimen of the same plant. Again, I think it is evening primrose (Oenothera biennis). -
Al Sabo 11
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17621 hits
I'm not sure which flower this is. This is why you always take a good field guide with you. I believe that it is evening primrose (Oenothera biennis), but picking flowers in the preserve is not allowed, and I did not take more diagnostic photographs. -
Al Sabo 10
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34509 hits
A close-up of the sassafras. A tea can be made from the bark of the roots. It's supposed to be delicious, but a lot of work to prepare safely. -
Al Sabo 9
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49641 hits
A small specimen of sassafras (Sassafras albidum). You can see the characteristic four different shapes of leaves. Although many plants have different leaves at maturity than they do when they are young, it is unusual to see so many different leaf shapes at the same time. For more about sassafras, read this. -
Al Sabo 8
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17125 hits
A gossamer spiderweb hidden in the grass. It's amazing what you see when you look down, but most people never do. They just trample over them. -
Al Sabo 7
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20276 hits
Another specimen of Solidago. There are over 100 species, and it is difficult to identify individual species without specialist knowledge. -
Al Sabo 13
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18920 hits
I'm not sure what flower this is, either. I believe that it is flowering spurge (Euphorbia corollata). The sap of flowering spurge can cause skin and eye irritation in some people, so be cautious about handling it. -
Al Sabo 5
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35053 hits
A bunch gall, caused by a midge fly (Rhopalomyia solidaginis) laying her eggs in a goldenrod leaf bud. This species of midge fly is actually an ecosystem engineer, providing shelter and food for other species. -
Al Sabo 4
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43823 hits
There is a lot of goldenrod (Solidago spp.) in bloom this time of year. Despite what adverts would have you believe, goldenrod is not responsible for allergies. -
Al Sabo 6
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17370 hits
Another specimen of a goldenrod bunch gall. -
Al Sabo 2
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15695 hits
The prairie is a mix of grasses and broadleaf plants, mostly yarrow, goldenrod, gentians, and milkweed. -
Al Sabo 1
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33828 hits
There is an attractive mix of forest and open prairie around the edges of the preserve. -
Al Sabo 3
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16305 hits
This is big tick country. Bare legs or insect repellent is a must.