Northern Commandra (False Toadflax) Geocaulon lividum, Photo by Lorraine Anderson

Wednesday, July 25th, 2007 - Report by

Today was kind of "the lazy days of summer". Neither of us had a very definitive plan as to where to go. We decided to go up the Gunflint Trail east on the Greenwood then North on the Assinika or Shoe Lake Road to the Vegetable chain. We had planned to then go over to the Arrowhead Trail but turned around at Carrot Lake. We stopped at the Black Spruce Bog on the Assinika Road and found red berries on the Northern Commandra, many green Cranberries, Snowberries & Fringed Loosestrife. (I don't remember seeing that before and now it seems like we find a few each week).
As we drove along, stopping and backing up and getting in and out of the car, we came to a low area that was filled with Cotton Grass, more than we had ever seen in this county. There were several Iris blooming too.
Other flowers of interest were Jewelweed, Pearly Everlasting, Rabbit's-foot & Hop Clover, Goldenrod, Purple Asters, Black-eyed Susan, Joe Pye, Eyebrite and the Dock is darkening.
Then there was a GOOD road off 313 called 313I. It was not on our maps and it didn't go anywhere except through lots of tasty Raspberries.
We walked in to a lake, over a boardwalk and sat on the shore - great place - nice breeze. We had four maps in the car and they all were a bit different. It was either Shoe Lake or Celery Lake.