Thursday, November 17, 2016

Flowers' Final Fling



It's the third week of November and, while there have been several heavy frosts at the house and the last few mornings have felt like mid-November should, this has been a really warm fall. In open areas near the river there are still a few flowers in bloom. In past years the last of the wildflowers would have been done blooming in October – but the climate is changing and recent years have been the warmest on record.

Some of the blooming wildflowers are exotics, escaped ornamentals or accidental imports, others are native species and some are in flower long after their normal season for blooming. All of these plants are well adapted to grow along roadsides or field edges where the sun shines brightly. A walk yielded a photographic bouquet of the last of the year’s wildflowers –
Daisy Fleabane


Tall Goldenrod

Queen Anne's Lace
Purple-stemmed Aster
Ox-eye Daisy

Small White Aster
Common Evening Primrose
Yarrow

It wasn’t just flowers that spoke of the warmth, there were a few insects flying in this too warm weather. A common sulphur on small white aster –

And a mating pair of ruby meadowhawks –

Even though the temperature shouldn’t be well over 55°F in November as it was this year, it’s pleasant to see these flowers and insects.

6 comments:

The Furry Gnome said...

You clearly live in a different climate! There are no flowers of any kind still in bloom here.

eileeninmd said...

Hello, pretty flowers and butterfly. Love the dragonfly shot. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!

Linda said...

Beautiful photos! Thank you so much for sharing.

carol l mckenna said...

Wow those ruby dragonflies are gorgeous and what a photo ~ Wonderful macro floral shots too ~ thanks.

Wishing you a gentle weekend ~ ^_^

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

Nice to have flowers around so late in the year.

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

Thanks for all those great pics and flower I.D.s, Woody.

I see them as I try to take pictures of the few remaining bees and butterflies, but I didn't know what all of them are.
~