Native Pollinator Garden Updates - 16 July 2014

I have written often in the past about the Native Pollinator gardens that we have installed at four local sites (three schools and a museum).  Over the past couple of days I have been busy adding some features to three of the gardens.

Saginaw Chippewa Academy Native Pollinator Garden

The garden at the Saginaw Chippewa Academy is the oldest garden of the four.  It was planted in 2011 and is now in its 4th summer of growth.  This garden is already registered through Monarch Watch as a Monarch Waystation #5092. 

In the past year another garden recognition program has also become available through an organization called Wild Ones.  Wild Ones is a national organization that promotes landscape health and biodiversity through the preservation, restoration, and establishment of native plant communities.  Their new program aims to recognize gardens/habitats that provide nectar sources and host plants for native butterfly species (especially Monarchs).  As a member of Wild Ones I am able to certify our gardens through this program.  Last week I received the following letter stating that the Saginaw Chippewa Academy Native Pollinator Garden was only the twenty-seventh garden in the country to be certified through this program!

Letter certifying the Saginaw Chippewa Academy Native Pollinator Garden as a Native Plant Butterfly Garden

In addition to the letter, I also received a metal sign to display in the garden.  Yesterday, I placed the sign in the garden alongside the Monarch Waystation sign.

New Native Plant Butterfly Garden sign displayed with Monarch Waystation sign

In addition to installing the new sign, I completed several more projects in the garden.  The garden needed a little bit of weeding.  Several self-seeded plants needed to be moved out of the pathway through the garden.  The tree rounds marking the pathway needed to be moved in one area.  Finally I installed a nesting box for native leafcutter and mason bees. 

This nesting site was made out of a 4 x 6 timber with holes cut through it with a hole saw.  Pieces of PVC pipe were inserted through the holes.  The rear of the pipes were capped and the front was cut at an angle to provide an overhang.  I filled the pipes with commercially available cardboard tubes that are designed for nesting bees, but you can also use pieces of bamboo, hollow stems from your garden, or branches with holes drilled in them.

Nesting site for native bees

A side view of the nesting box/post showing the angles front and capped back of the PVC pipes

A closer view of the nesting boxes

Nesting box for native bees filled with cardboard tubes

Here are a few more pictures of the SCA Native Pollinator Garden.

SCA Native Pollinator Garden - mass of flowers to the left are Bee Balm

Spiderwort, Butterflyweed, and Common Milkweed

Several plants were moved and this pathway straightened out

Cup Plant

Common Milkweed

Hoary Vervain

Rattlesnake Master

Mt. Pleasant Discovery Museum Native Pollinator Garden

Several weeks ago, I registered the Mt. Pleasant Discovery Museum Native Pollinator Garden as Monarch Waystation #8536.  This Waystation is so new that it still is not listed on the Waystation Registry.  I put the Waystation sign last week and yesterday I added a native bee nesting box (just like the one at the Saginaw Chippewa Academy.  This a very young garden.  It was planted last year at the end of June during a very dry period.  Although it may not look like much to most people, I am very happy with how this garden is progressing.

The Monarch Waystation sign greets visitors at the entry portico

Bee nest box at the Mt. Pleasant Discovery Museum

A view of the MPDM Native Pollinator Garden - bee nest box in foreground, Waystation sign can be seen on porch beam

Winn Elementary Native Pollinator Garden

The final garden that I visited over the past two days was the one at Winn Elementary.  This garden is now in its 3rd summer of growth - it was planted in 2012.  The school previously registered this garden as Monarch Waystation #6704.  Despite having the sign for some time, it was not displayed in the garden.  Earlier this summer I got the sign from the school office with the intent of putting it up in the garden.  Yesterday I finally got around to doing it.

In addition to the Monarch Waystation sign, I also installed a sign recognizing this garden as a Native Plant Wildlife Garden.  The letter from Wild Ones indicates that this is the 28th garden/habitat to receive this certification.

Here are a couple of photos of the newly installed signs.

I also did a little weeding, raked around the mulch where it had been moved by the recent (heavy) rains and installed one of the bee nest boxes.  Here are a few more pictures of what this garden looks like as of this week.

Horsemint (right) and Butterflyweed (left)

Bee nest box - yellow flowers in foreground are Lance-leaf Coreopsis, the ones in the background are Western Sunflower

Western Sunflower

Red Baneberry

The curved front of the garden

The north end of the garden showing the bee nesting box - the paving stones were made by students

A birdbath made by students and parents

Butterflyweed

Wildflower of 2014 - The Complete List (As of 14 July 2014)

Earlier this Spring, I started making a list of (and photographing)  all the wildflowers I could find in one growing season.  Here are the rules that I gave myself for this self-imposed challenge.

•  Any native or non-native plant (including trees) can be photographed if it meets two conditions
• It must be growing in a wild population - it cannot be in a location where it was planted.
• It must be growing in one of the parks or other city properties within the city of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.

• I have to photograph the plant on the day I first find the flower - but I can photograph any flower of the species that I find on that day.

• I have to be able to identify the species for it to count - unknown specimens do not count.

Here is my complete list as of 14 July 2014.  So far I have found 181 total species, of which 119 (65.7%) have been native and 62 species (34.3%) have been introduced to Michigan. 

Thursday 10 April 2014
     #1  Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus)

 Monday 14 April 2014
     #2  Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis)
     #3  Pussy Willow (Salix discolor)

Wednesday 16 April 2014
     #4  Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides)

Monday 21 April 2014
     #5  Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
     #6  Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)
     #7  Common Blue Violet (Viola sororia)

Tuesday 22 April 2014
     #8  Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
     #9  Speckled Alder (Alnus rugosa)

Thursday 24 April 2014
     #10  Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica)

Tuesday 29 April 2014
     #11  Boxelder (Acer negundo)
     #12  Cut-leaved Toothwort (Cardamine concatenata)
     #13  Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris)
     #14  Yellow Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum)

Thursday 01 May 2014
     #15  Field Penny-cress (Thlaspi arvense)     NON-NATIVE
     #16  Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum)
     #17  Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)
     #18  Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officianale)     NON-NATIVE

Monday 05 May 2014
     #19  Large-flowered Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)
     #20  Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides)
     #21  Squirrel Corn (Dicentra canadensis)

Tuesday 06 May 2014
     #22  False Rue Anemone (Enemion biternatum)
     #23  White Trout Lily (Erythronium albidinum)

 Sunday 11 May 2014
     #24  Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia)
     #25  Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
     #26  Spring Cress (Cardamine bulbosa)
     #27  American Dog Violet (Viola labradorica)
     #28  Swamp Buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus)
     #29  Downy Yellow Violet (Viola pubescens)
     #30  Two-leaf Mitrewort (Mitella diphylla)
     #31  Mouse-ear Chickweed (Cerastium fontanum)     NON-NATIVE
     #32  Woodland Strawberry (Fragaria vesca)
     #33  Garlic Mustard (Alliara petiolata)     NON-NATIVE (INVASIVE)

Tuesday 13 May 2014
     #34 Broad-leaved Toothwort (Cardamine diphylla)
     #35 Downy Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea)
     #36 American Black Currant (Ribes americanum)
     #37 Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)     NON-NATIVE
     #38 Mouse-ear Cress (Arabidopsis thaliana)     NON-NATIVE
     #39 Common Winter-cress (Barbarea vulgaris)     NON-NATIVE
     #40 Hoary Alyssum (Berteroa incana)     NON-NATIVE
     #41 Field Peppergrass (Lepidium campestre)     NON-NATIVE
     #42 Creamy Violet (Viola striata)


 Sunday 18 May 2014
     #43 Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum)
     #44 Star-flowered False Solomon's Seal (Maianthenum stellatum)
     #45 Common Periwinkle (Vinca minor)      NON-NATIVE (INVASIVE)

Tuesday 20 May 2014
     #46 Common Yellow Wood-sorrel (Oxalis stricta)
     #47 Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)
     #48 Nodding Trillium (Trillium cernuum)
     #49 Early Meadow-rue (Thalictrum dioicum)
     #50 Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata)
     #51 Small-flowered Buttercup (Ranunculus arbortivus)
     #52 Downy Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum pubescens)
     #53 Small Pussytoes (Antennaria howellii)
     #54 American Mountain Ash (Sorbus americana)
     #55 Purple Dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum)     NON-NATIVE     

Wednesday 21 May 2014
     #56 Horse-gentian (Triosteum aurantiacum)
     #57 Lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis)     NON-NATIVE (INVASIVE)
     #58 Choke Cherry (Prunus virginiana)
     #59 Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
     #60 Morrow's Honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii)     NON-NATIVE (INVASIVE)
     #61 White Oak (Quercus alba)
     #62 Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)    

Friday 23 May 2014
     #63 Thyme-leaved Speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolia)     NON-NATIVE
     #64 American Bladdernut (Staphylea trifolia)

Monday 26 May 2014

     #65 Tartarian Honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica)     NON-NATIVE (INVASIVE)
     #66 Common Apple (Malus pumila)    NON-NATIVE
     #67 Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
     #68 Red Baneberry (Actaea rubra)
     #69 Cleavers (Galium aparine)
     #70 Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum)
     #71 Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)
     #72 Pennsylvania Bitter Cress (Cardamine pensylvanica)
     #73 White Baneberry (Actaea pachypoda)
     #74 Canada Mayflower (Maianthemum canadense)
     #75 Red Oak (Quercus rubra)

Monday 26 May 2014 (Part 2)
     #76 Wayfaring Tree (Viburnum lantana)     NON-NATIVE
     #77 Dame's Rocket (Hesperis matronalis)     NON-NATIVE (INVASIVE)
     #78 Upright Carrion-flower (Smilax ecirrata)
     #79 Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)
     #80 Red-osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea)
     #81 White Campion (Silene latifolia)     NON-NATIVE
     #82 Canada Anemone (Anemone canadensis)
          
Thursday 29 May 2014
     #83 Feathery False Solomon's Seal (Mainthemum racemosum)
     #84 Indian Strawberry (Potentilla indica)     NON-NATIVE
     #85 Common Fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus)
     #86 Wild Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)
     #87 Black Medick (Medicago lupulina)     NON-NATIVE

Sunday 01 June 2014
     #88 Fistulous Goat's Beard (Tragopogon dubius)     NON-NATIVE
     #89 Garden Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)     NON-NATIVE
     #90 Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)     NON-NATIVE (INVASIVE)
     #91 Golden Ragwort (Packera aurea)
     #92 Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)
     #93 Forget-me-not (Myosotis scorpioides)    NON-NATIVE (INVASIVE)
     #94 Southern Blue Flag Iris (Iris virginica)
     #95 White Clover (Trifolium repens)     NON-NATIVE
     #96 Black Raspberry (Rubus occidentalis)
     #97 Green Dragon (Arisaema dracontium)
     #98 Yellow Pond-lily (Nuphar variegata)

 Tuesday 03 June 2014
     #99 American Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum trilobum)
     #100 Common Buttercup (Ranunculus acris)     NON-NATIVE  

Tuesday 03 June 2014 (Part 2)

     #101 Winged Euonymus (Euonymus alatus)     NON-NATIVE

     #102 Amur maple (Acer ginnala)     NON-NATIVE

     #103 Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)    NON-NATIVE (INVASIVE)

     #104 Oriental Poppy (Papaver orientale)     NON-NATIVE

     #105 Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)     NON-NATIVE

   

Thursday 05 June 2014

     #106 Bittersweet Nightshade  (Solanum dulcamara)     NON-NATIVE

    

Friday 06 June 2014

     #107 Riverbank Grape (Vitis riparia)

     #108 Silky Dogwood (Cornus amonum)

     #109 Carpet Bugle (Ajuga reptans)     NON-NATIVE

Sunday 08 June 2014

     #110 Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) 

     #111 Honewort (Cryptotaenia canadensis)

     #112 Northern Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor)

     #113 Running Strawberry Bush (Euonymus obovatus)

     #114 Common Black Snakeroot (Sanicula odorata)

     #115 Virginia Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum)

     #116 Hairy Vetch (Vicia cracca)     NON-NATIVE

     #117 Ox-eye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)     NON-NATIVE

     #118 English Plantain (Plantago lanceolata)     NON-NATIVE

     #119 Mossy Stonecrop (Sedum acre)     NON-NATIVE

Sunday 08 June 2014 (Part 2)    

     #120 Birdfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)     NON-NATIVE

     #121 Yellow Sweet Clover (Melilotus officinalis)     NON-NATIVE

     #122 King Devil (Hieracium piloselloides)     NON-NATIVE

     #123 Clammy Ground-cherry (Physalis heterophylla)

     #124 Giant Bur-reed (Sparganium eurycarpum)

Monday 09 June 2014

     #125 White Water Lily (Nymphaea odorata)

     #126 Purple Meadow Rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum)

Thursday 12 June 2014

     #127 Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)     NON-NATIVE

     #128 Silvery Cinquefoil (Potentilla argentea)     NON-NATIVE

     #129 Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)     NON-NATIVE (INVASIVE)

    #130 Bitter Dock (Rumex obstusifolius)     NON-NATIVE

    #131 Common Goat's Beard (Tragopogon pratensis)     NON-NATIVE

Monday 16 June 2014

     #132 Wild Garlic (Allium canadense)

     #133 Moonseed (Menispermum canadense)

     #134 Narrow-leafed Cattail (Typha angustifolia)      NON-NATIVE in Michigan

     #135 Cow Parsnip (Heracleum maximum)    

     #136 Everlasting Pea (Lathyrus latifolius)     NON-NATIVE

     #137 Cursed Crowfoot (Ranunculus scleratus

     #138 Rough-fruited Cinquefoil (Potentilla recta)     NON-NATIVE

     #139 Crown-vetch (Securigera varia)     NON-NATIVE

   

Sunday 22 June 2014

     #140 White Avens (Geum canadense)

     #141 Wild Rose (Rosa blanda)

     #142 Northern Bush-honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera)

     #143 Gray Dogwood (Cornus foemina)

     #144 Eastern Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)

     #145 Common Cattail (Typha latifolia)

     #146 Hedge Bindweed (Calystegia sepium)

     #147 Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)

     #148 Common Enchanter's-nightshade (Circaea canadensis)

     #149 Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis)

     #150 Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense)     NON-NATIVE

Wednesday 25 June 2014

     #151 Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)

     #152 Border Privet (Ligustrum obtusifolium)     NON-NATIVE

   

Thursday 26June 2014

     #153 Large-leaved Shinleaf (Pyrola elliptica)

     #154 Common St. John's-wort (Hypericum perfoliatum)

     #155 White Sweet Clover (Melilotus albus)     NON-NATIVE

     #156 Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

     #157 Pasture Rose (Rosa carolina)

Friday 27 June 2014

     #158 Creeping Buttercup (Ranunculus repens)

     #159 Common Elder (Sambucus canadensis)

     #160 Moth Mullein (Verbascum blattaria)     NON-NATIVE

     #161 Chicory (Cichorium intybus)     NON-NATIVE

Sunday 29June 2014

     #162 Water Hemlock (Cicuta maculata)

     #163 Michigan Lily (Lilium michiganense)

Wednesday 02 July 2014

     #164 Wood Nettle (Laportea canadensis)

     #165 Fringed Loosestrife (Lysimachia ciliata)

     #166 Tall Agrimony (Agrimonia gryposepala)

     #167 American Lopseed (Phryma leptostachya)

Thursday 03 July 2014

     #168 Deptford Pink (Dianthus armeria)     NON-NATIVE

     #169 Common Mullein (Verbascum thaspus)     NON-NATIVE

     #170 Spreading Dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium)

     #171 Wild Carrot (Daucus carota)     NON-NATIVE

Tuesday 08 July2014

     #172 Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)

     #173 Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)     NON-NATIVE

     #174 Wild Mint (Mentha canadensis)

Wednesday 09 July 2014

     #175 White Vervain (Verbena urticifolia)

     #176 Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica)

     #177 Bouncing Bet (Saponaria officinalis)     NON-NATIVE

     #178 Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare)     NON-NATIVE

     #179 Catnip (Nepeta cataria)     NON-NATIVE

     #180 Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

     #181 Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata)

Wildflowers of 2014 - #172 through #181

After a lull in June, the pace of wildflower first blooms has picked up again.  Over the past two days I have added another ten species to the list - bringing the 2014 list to one hundred eighty-one species!


The first three species listed below were found Tuesday 08 July 2014 at Island Park.  Island Park is the most used (and most developed) park in Mt. Pleasant, but because it is completely surrounded by the Chippewa River it is a good place to find riparian species.

Wildflowers of 2014 - #172 Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)

The first species of the day was Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata).  Also known as Swamp Vervain, Blue Vervain is water-loving species that is most commonly found in wet meadows, along shorelines, and in wetlands.  Blue Vervain has dark violet-blue flowers arranged on narrow spikes.  Individual plants may reach heights of 2 to 6 feet.

Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)

Blue Vervain - a closer view of the flower spikes

For more information on Blue Vervain, please see this species profile from July 2013.


Wildflowers of 2014 - #173 Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)

The second flower of the day is one that I hope not to find every year, but I know that I will.  Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) is a native of Eurasia, northwest Africa, and Australia.  It was introduced in North America originally as an ornamental plant in the 1800s.  Unfortunately, this plant easily escapes cultivation - individual plants may produce more than 2 million seeds in a single year!  Once established in a natural area, it becomes almost impossible to eradicate and quickly outgrows the native vegetation.  It can now be found in 43 states and 10 Canadian provinces and territories.  Many wetlands that have been infested with this plant have become almost complete monocultures, with little to no native vegetation remaining.

Purple Loosestrife growing along the Chippewa River

Purple Loosestrife is fairly easy to identify.  Its flowers are arranged in spikes at the top of the plant.  Individual flowers are purple, have 5-7 petals (normally 6), and measure 1/2 to 1 inch across.  Flowering spikes may be 6 inches to 2 feet long.

Purple Loosestrife - a closer view of the flowering spikes

Purple Loosestrife leaves are lanceolate (shaped like a lance or spear point) and may measure up to 4 inches long.  They are normally arranged in opposite pairs or whorls of three leaves, although some upper leaves may be arranged alternately.  Plants may grow to 6 feet in height, but may flower when less than 12 inches tall.  Another distinguishing feature of Purple Loosestrife in the square cross-section of the plant's stem.

Purple Loosestrife - note the opposite leaves and square stems

Wildflowers of 2014 - #174 Wild Mint (Mentha canadensis)

The next plant also has stems with a square cross-section, but this plant is native to North America.  Wild Mint (Mentha canadensis) is the only native mint that can be found in Michigan.  It grows in moist soils in a variety of habitats, both sun and shade.  It has a circumpolar distribution - meaning it occurs as a native plant in North America, Europe, and Asia.  European and Asian plants are referred to as Mentha arvensis - the USDA PLANTS database also lists North American plants by this nomenclature.

Wild Mint (Mentha canadensis)

Like other mint species, Wild Mint has a distinctive "mint" smell and taste which may deter browsing by herbivores.  Wild mint can be distinguished from the other mint species found in Mid-Michigan by the location of its flowers.  All of the non-native Mentha varieties have flowers arranged in spikes; Wild Mint has white (or pink or lavender) tube-shaped flowers arranged in whorls growing from the leaf axils on the upper part of the plant.

Wild Mint - note flowers in leaf axils and hairy stems

The following seven species were photographed at Mill Pond Park on Wednesday 09 July 2014.

Wildflowers of 2014 - #175 White Vervain (Verbena urticifolia)

The first flower from Wednesday was White Vervain (Verbena urticifolia).  This plant is very similar to #172 Blue Vervain (V. hastata) - the plants are so closely related that they may hybridize.  The major difference between the two species is flower color.  While those of Blue Vervain are a deep violet blue, White Vervain flowers are (of course) white.  The flowers are arrange on clusters of spikes like those of Blue Vervain, but the spikes of White Vervain are less compact and tend to sprawl more.  Leaves of White Vervain also tend to be wider than those of Blue Vervain.  The leaves resemble those of Nettles (Urticaceae), thus the urticifolia in the species scientific name.

White Vervain - note nettle-like leaves

White Vervain - note small white flowers and opposite leaves

White Vervain is found in moist soils.  It is more tolerant of partial shade than Blue Vervain.  It is often found in open woodlands and wooded floodplains where Blue Vervain is not present.  It has a smaller natural range than Blue Vervain.  While Blue Vervain is found from the Atlantic to the Pacific Coast, White Vervain is only found east of the Rocky Mountains.

Wildflowers of 2014 - #176 Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica)

The previous flower provides a nice segue into this next species; White Vervain's binomial nomenclature Verbena urticifolia means Verbena "with nettle-like leaves".   The next flower on the list is a nettle - Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica).

Earlier this week I listed Wood Nettle (Laportea canadensis) at #164.  Although Wood Nettle and Stinging Nettle are in separate genera (Urtica and Laportea), they share a common characteristic.  Both plants are covered with fine needle-like hairs that break off upon contact.  These needles are filled with filled with a mixture of chemical that cause an itching or burning sensation upon contact with skin.  Both plants also have small greenish-white or green flowers growing in clusters from the leaf axils.

Stinging Nettle - note opposite leaves and flowers in leaf axils

Despite these similarities the two plants are easy to distinguish.  Stinging Nettle often grows taller than Wood Nettle (up to 7 feet tall versus 4 feet tall).  Although both species like wet soils, Stinging Nettle is also more likely to be found in dry habitats than Wood Nettle.  The most distinguishing characteristic is leaf placement; Wood Nettle has some alternate leaves while those of Stinging Nettle are always arranged in pairs.

Stinging Nettle - a closer view of the greenish-white flowers

There is some debate over the origin of our Stinging Nettle plants.  The species is native to both North America and Eurasia.  Michigan Flora indicates that most Michigan plants belong to the native subspecies.

Wildflowers of 2014 - #177 Bouncing Bet (Saponaria officinalis)

The next three species are all non-native, starting with Bouncing Bet (Saponaria officinalis).  This native of Eurasia is naturalized across all of the United States and Canada with the exception of Hawaii, Alaska, and the Canadian Arctic.  Like many introduced species, it is most commonly found in disturbed habitats such as fields and roadsides.  Bouncing Bet is also known as Soapwort - adding the plant to water will result in foam that has traditionally bean used for cleaning.

Bouncing Bet or Soapwort

Bouncing Bet plants may grow up to 2 1/2 feet tall and produces a terminal cluster of white or bluish-white flowers.  The flowers are up to 1 inch across, tube-shaped, and have five petals.  The petals angle backward, exposing the plant's pistil and stamen.  Like many pale flowers, Bouncing Bet is probably pollinated mainly by large nocturnal moths.

Bouncing Bet - note tubular flowers with bent back petals

Wildflowers of 2014 - #178 Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare)

Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare) is the second species of thistle on the list - Canada Thistle (C. arvense) was listed at #150 on June 22nd.  Like Canada Thistle, Bull Thistle was originally native to Europe.  It has naturalized across most of North America (except certain areas of the Canadian Arctic).  It was probably introduced accidentally in seed stocks.

Bull Thistle - note spines on stem, leaves, and flower bract

Bull Thistle is a very spiny plant.  The stem of the plant is covered with small spines and several linear "wings" with widely spaced large spines.  The leaves of the plant are lobed, with stout spines at the tips of each lobe.  The bracts at the base of each  purple/pink flower also come to stiff points.

Bull Thistle plants grow to a height of 3 to 6 feet.  They are most commonly found in dry upland sites.


Wildflowers of 2014 - #179 Catnip (Nepeta cataria)

Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is another Eurasian native that has also naturalized across most of North America.  Also known as Catmint,  Catnip was widely planted during Colonial times for its medicinal properties.  Like most non-native species, it is most common in disturbed habitats.

Catnip grows to a height of 1 to 3 feet.  It has opposite leaves that are roughly heart-shaped with toothed margins.  The undersides of the leaves and stems are covered with dense whitish hairs - this gives the plant a grayish-green appearance.

Catnip (Nepeta cataria)

Catnip Flowers are arranged in a spike at the top of the plant and in the upper leaf axils.  The flowering spike may be nearly 3 inches long, but individual flowers are small (1/4 to 1/2 inch across)  The flowers are white with pink or purple spots.

Catnip - note white flowers with pink/purple spots

Wildflowers of 2014 - #180 Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

Species #180 for the year is Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata).  This is the second Milkweed species on my 2014 list - Common Milkweed (A. syriaca) was listed at #156.  In Mid-Michigan, Common Milkweed is our most widespread Milkweed species, Swamp Milkweed is the second most common species.  As its name implies, Swamp Milkweed prefers wet soils.  Although the plant is not usually found in standing water, it is common along shorelines, in wet meadows, and in ditches across Michigan.  It rarely is found in drier soils.

Swamp Milkweed (Asclepia incarnata)

Swamp Milkweed is easy to identify.  It has flowers with the typical milkweed shape, but they are arranged in a flat-topped (or domed) cluster.  More importantly for identification they are a bright magenta pink.  The leaves of Swamp Milkweed are much narrower and lance-shaped than those of Common Milkweed.  The plant has the potential to grow up to six feet tall, but is usually much shorter.  Like all Milkweeds, Swamp Milkweed is a perennial that spreads both by sending up clones from its roots and by its wind-dispersed seeds.

Swamp Milkweed - note narrow lanceolate leaves and magenta flowers

Wildflowers of 2014 - #181 Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata)

The final flower of the day was Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata).  This plant grows in shallow water along shorelines, in ditches, and in emergent marshes throughout the eastern United States and Canada (plus a disjunct population in Oregon). 

In Mt. Pleasant, I can find Pickerelweed in a single location, a ditch coming off of a small wildlife.  This ditch is rapidly being filled in with Narrow-leafed Cattail and I imagine that in a few years, the Pickerelweed will probably be crowded out.

Pickerelweed - note violet blue flowers and heart-shaped leaves

Pickerelweed plants can grow to a height of more than three feet.  Their basal leaves are roughly heart-shaped and measure up to 7 inches long.  The small violet-blue flowers are about 1/4 inch across and grow on a crowded spike (raceme) that may be 2 1/2 inches long.  These flowers attract bees, butterflies, and day-flying moths.

Pickerelweed - a closer view of the flowering spike