The roadsides on Hwy 522 were still pristine (not mowed) so we went for a short drive, via Old Still River Road, where we saw this Painted Turtle on the “basking log”:
This bumblebee is taking advantage of the new blossoms on this Common/Great Mullein.
This is the first time I’ve noticed the blossoms on these plants. The leaves are about 3/4″ by 1 1/2″ making the flowers about 1/4″ in diameter. Worth looking at … from a canoe/kayak.
When I researched this plant I found that it only bloomed for a couple of days during the year:
Brasenia exhibits wind pollination. The flowers have a two-day blooming period. On the first day, the functionally female, or pistillate flower, extends above the surface of the water and exposes the receptive stigmas. The flower then recedes below the water surface and on the following day emerges as a functionally male, or staminate flower. It is elevated higher than on the previous day and the anther-bearing filaments are extended beyond the female carpels.[9] The anthers dehisce, releasing the pollen, and the flower is then withdrawn below the water where the fruit develops.
Amazing! I’d never heard of that behaviour before!
The above are often in association with White Water Lilies …
And Yellow ones too!
This Frosted Whiteface ( Leucorrhina proxima) was hunting flies along the shore …
Meadow Rue, Thalictrum, is starting to bloom now.
This Salsify parachute paused for a few seconds to pose for the camera.
The last of the Pale Corydalis, a long lived bloomer.
Evening Primroses are starting to bloom. So here is an arty version of this oft-photographed flower.
I think that I prefer the “naturalness” of this Orange Hawkweed:
I hope to get out on the water in Floatboat II soon. [I am awaiting a part to fix the electric tiller on the electric trolling motor … my back-up in case the big motor fails.] I think that the long lens will be a great asset while cruising along the shorelines of the Islands of Georgian Bay.
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