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Wednesday, July 26th, 2006 -
Report
by
Yesterday, Tuesday was a
very special day for L & her
friend from Georgia. L has
been wishing to see the
Tall White Bog-orchid
(pictured above),
Platanthera dilatata,
since 2003. She got the GPS
readings from Chel but until
Stan Tull & Les Morrison
were found as guides the
orchid was impossible for us
to find. We were able to
drive in most of the way in
a truck but the next 45
minutes were spent walking
through downed trees in a
wet area. They were just
like giant pick-up sticks.
It's a wonder no one
sprained an ankle - or
worse. Anyway we found the
tiny bog and the rather
small, beautiful
Tall White Bog-orchids
(fragrant too). The way back
to the truck was almost as
bad but on the way we found
Dwarf Rattlesnake Plantain
and Heart-leafed Twayblade
(which may be the first time
I had seen that).
Then on Wednesday we searched
the shore for Collomia linearis
but were too late. That is a
very rare small phlox-type
plant. But we did see the rare
Slaty-backed Gull which probably
is a first for Minnesota. Also
near the shore by the East Bay
were many plants of Hoary
Alyssum.
Then we went to a cabin on
the Croftville Road to help a
lady identify the plants in her
yard.
After all that we were hungry
and hot so we went on the beach
east of town for lunch. It was
cool and that felt good. We are
not used to this hot weather.
Then it seemed as though our
Wednesday started. We drove
slowly (in our air-conditioned
car) stopping now and then,
getting out to help identify
different things. Now that all
the leaves are out, the most
colorful flowers are on the road
sides:
Fireweed,
Canada Thistle,
Joe Pye,
Daisies, Canada Hawkweed,
Tansy and Rabbit's-foot
Clover. One white flower that
was not in our books but looked
like it was a garden escape. And
escape it did - all over the
place - Achillea The Pearl.
What a good day even though
hot.
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here for the most recent report!
Be sure to stop back
throughout the Spring and
Summer to see our weekly
wildflower reports from
Lorraine Anderson of Grand
Marais, Minnesota.
