Camassia scilloides at Prophetstown State Park

This slope at the end of the motorway at Prophetstown State Park is home to a large population of Camassia scilloides plants.  Camassia grows thick like this for hundreds of yards along the trail here.

 A closer look at some of the Camassia scilloides at the park.

More Camassia scilloides along the trail, with some fire pink (Silene virginica).  All pictures taken April 22, 2012.
 
Link to previous post on Camassia scilloides:

Link to Silene virginica:

Red Admiral butterflies on Deutzia gracilis

The Deutzia gracilis shrub at the east entrance to Lilly Hall has begun blooming and today is swarming with dozens of red admiral butterflies (Vanessa atalanta).


Link to previous post on this Deutzia gracilis:

Link to Vanessa atalanta:

Reports the last few days are that red admiral butterflies are unusually prevalent, here is a link:

Pictures taken April 18, 2012, Purdue campus.

Erodium cicutarium

Erodium cicutarium, sometimes called cranesbill.  Plants in the Geranium family typically have fruits with this kind of a beaked look to it.

Link to Erodium cicutarium:

Link to Erodium cicutarium:

Link to Erodium cicutarium:

Link to Geranium family:

More Erodium cicutarium outside of another groundhog hole.

Big Boy the Groundhog waits to go outside.

Link to Marmota monax:

Pictures taken April 16, 2012, near the Harrison Bridge, Lafayette side.

Tree frog on mayapple leaf

A tree frog finds its spot on a mayapple leaf.  In Scifres-Maier woods in Celery Bog Park.  I am guessing it is a gray tree frog (Hyla versicolor).  Picture taken April 12, 2012.

Link to gray tree frog (Hyla versicolor).

Link to gray tree frog  (Hyla versicolor).
 
Link to gray tree frog (Hyla versicolor).

Link to previous post on mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum):

Celandine poppy

Celandine poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum), at Purdue Wildlife Area, along entrance road.  PWA is in Tippecanoe County, about 6 miles west of the Purdue campus.

Picture taken April  9, 2012.

Link to previous post on Stylophorum diphyllum:

Link to Stylophorum diphyllum:

Link to Purdue Wildlife Area:

Red Buckeye

A red buckeye tree (Aesculus pavia) planted on the front grounds of the Purdue Wildlife Area, west of West Lafayette.  Picture taken April 9, 2012.

Link to Aesculus pavia:

Link to Aesculus pavia:

Link to Aesculus pavia:

Garlic mustard best to eat right now

A view looking down at the top of a garlic mustard plant (Alliaria petiolata).  Notice the flower buds and their resemblance to its domesticated cousin, broccoli.  Garlic mustard is even better to eat than broccoli because it's free!  This stage is the best time to eat it, pick the tender broccoli-like tops and upper leaves.  Take care that nobody's sprayed it with herbicide.

This plant was growing in West Lafayette (before I picked it and ate it).  March 28, 2012.

Link to Alliaria petiolata: