the narrow channel between Billy Goat B and Offutt Island; the river is really low – all the land in this picture should be underwater
After three weeks’ absence I eagerly hit the Billy Goat B trail yesterday, expecting to find a lot of asters and goldenrods. What I actually found was a whole lot of nothing.
that is one sad looking maple
OK, not really nothing, of course. And although we are not yet officially in a drought, we are abnormally dry here. As a result, the wildflower show is really muted. Plants are going dormant early, their leaves wilted or brown (at least, I hope they’re going dormant, and not dying). Many trees have lost their leaves already, and others’ leaves are turning brown
this black walnut isn’t too happy, either
I saw plenty of white snakeroot, which is dominant at this time of year regardless of weather, a fair amount of wingstem, several different species of goldenrod, a few silverrods budding up, a few scattered asters, one plant in the genus Bidens, and that’s about it.
look at all the brown plants behind this smooth aster
that’s a sorry looking wingstem, but the bumblebee doesn’t seem to mind
riverbank goldenrod says “what is drought?”
calyces on bugleweed
Elizabeth's Wildflower Blog 