Nine leaves of Puttyroot Orchid

The leaves of puttyroot orchid (Aplectrum hyemale) are just now emerging from the ground.  They will lay down flat on the ground and persist as green leaves throughout the winter.  This is in the woods at Celery Bog Park, November 7, 2013.

Link to previous post on these puttyroot orchids:

Wild mustard and lamb's quarters along the new roadside

Yellow flowers of wild mustard (Brassica) and the red of lamb's quarters (Chenopodium album) along the new road west of town, Lamb's quarters are normally green like most other plants but now they have turned red with autumn coloration just like the leaves on the trees.  November 3, 2013.

:Link to Chenopodium album:

Link to wild mustard:

Chasmanthium latifolium

Chasmanthium latifolium, also called inland oat grass, at Clegg Gardens, on the bank of the Wildcat Creek.  Picture taken Oct. 29, 2013.

Link to Chasmanthium latifolium:

Great Blue Heron

A great blue heron (Ardia herodias) stalks its prey at the pond in front of University Place on Lindberg Road. Pictures taken October 10, 2013.

Link to previous post on great blue heron:

Link to another post on great blue heron:

Dryad's saddle mushroom on a sugar maple stump

Dryad's saddle (Polyporus squamosus) appears all up and down this big sugar maple stump in Celery Bog Park.  The plants to the side of the stump are pokeweed (Phytolacca americana).  Picture taken October 10, 2013.

Link to previous post about this stump:

Link to Dryad's saddle:

Riddell's goldenrod

Riddell's goldenrod, at the fen at Prophetstown State Park.  Picture taken Sept. 25, 2013.  Some sources say that this goldenrod has been reclassified as Oligoneuron riddellii but in the Flora of North America treatment it remains Solidago riddellii so I am going with that. 

Link to FNA treatment of Solidago riddellii:

Link to Riddell's Goldenrod:

Link to Riddell's Goldenrod:

Swamp goldenrod

Swamp goldenrod (Solidago patula) at the entrance to the fen at Prophetstown State Park.  Picture taken Sept. 25, 2013.

Link to Solidago patula: