1.       Peak Bloom Period is Upon Us:  Our natural areas are looking simply gorgeous right now with beautiful wetland and prairie flowers blooming in an array of breathtaking purples, pinks, yellows. Bergamot, Oxeye, Grey Headed Coneflower, Swamp Milkweed, Butterfly Flower, and Purple Coneflower are just a few species that are in full bloom. Blazing Star species, Prairie Onion, and Cardinal flower are following close behind and should be showing off their amazing colors in the next week or so.

     

2.       Native Grasses Gaining Respect!  Cool season

Big Bluestem

grasses like Canada rye and Prairie brome often share the stage with our showy flowers by putting up some pretty dazzling seed heads, while our warm season grasses are just starting to become more noticeable.  Blue grama, with its delicate eyelash shaped seed heads are a welcome site in July.  With the consistent rains that we have experienced, little bluestem is filling out and putting on many shades of grey, blue, bronze, and green.  Big bluestem is just starting to form its "turkey-foot" seed head.  Our native flowers often get a lot of attention, but a multitude of grass species are a wonderful addition to ecological restorations, as they provide essential habitat and eye-catching colors and textures throughout the year.

3.       Watch out Overhead! With a multitude of flower

	Swallowtail on Pale Purple Coneflower

species blooming right now, we are seeing so much flying activity that it would give the best air traffic controller a migraine! Native bees and butterflies are doing figure eights around their favorite plants. This year, we have seen hundreds of swallowtails and American and Painted Lady butterflies. Unfortunately, despite what seems like a good year for milkweed, our maintenance crew hasn't been seeing that many Monarch butterflies or caterpillars. Usually by this time of year, we observe them in our greenhouses as well as all over milkweed in the field.  Fingers crossed, we will soon begin to see the Monarch.

4.      

Purple Loosestrife

Uggg - weeds: It's been a robust summer for our weeds as well, with all the timely rain, growing conditions for weeds have been excellent. Reed Canary Grass, Burdock, Sweet Clover, and Canada Thistle are already going to seed.  Weeds like Hoary Alyssum, Sow Thistle, Prickly Lettuce, and Purple Loosestrife are flowering and beginning to set seed. Tip of the month: To break the weed seed cycle, be sure to cut the flowers off or bag and collect the weed seed before it disperses on the ground!  This is a critical step in getting pesky weeds under control.

5.       When to Water? It's been a rainy summer but things are still getting dry in July with our sunny days and 90 degree temperatures.  Established native plants are great at handling drought conditions - no watering is needed.  Their deep root systems are a safeguard against extended dry periods.   However, newly planted restoration areas need about 1" of water per week to ensure survival and establishment.  Also, remember to check on newly planted trees and shrubs.  Gator tree bags are an efficient way to deliver water to woody species.  Over the long-run, established natural areas will work to conserve and protect our cherished water resources in our great state.