![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/FringedPolygalaOneonNaturalCrooksDotCom-scaled.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nIn Search of Purple Polygala<\/h2>\n
When I was young, I always liked a small flower with an unusual shape called Fringed Polygala. It bloomed near the start of black fly season so I didn’t see it every year. And once the blossoms have dropped, it’s leaves are inconspicuous and vaguely look like those of Wintergreen.<\/p>\n
While exploring vicariously through other people’s observations on iNaturalist, I discovered Polygala is not uncommon at Fletcher Creek Ecological Preserve. So are Yellow Ladyslipper Orchids. And a cheerful yellow flower called Lakeside Daisy, which is threatened in its few native locations, has been introduced to the limestone quarry alvar here as part of a naturalization project when the quarry was closed.<\/p>\n I decided I couldn’t risk driving hours to a provincial park nor the possibility of long inaccessible trails but I would risk a day trip to Fletcher Creek.<\/p>\n And when I reached a wooded section along the trail: there they were! Dozens, maybe hundreds, of perfect purple flowers.<\/p>\n In two more days, the lovely Canada Mayflowers might have to answer to the name Juneflowers, but on my walk they were still rightly named.<\/p>\n I often see Mayflower leaves in forests near me but seldom see the blossoms. The plants must get large and strong enough to bloom. As someone pointed out, usually the blossoms are on plants with two leaves.<\/p>\n As usual with white flowers, I had trouble getting the blossoms in focus in the shady locations they preferred. You can get a sense, though, of the dainty white flower spikes.<\/p>\n While reading about wildflowers in the Bruce Peninsula National Park, I saw photos of Lakeside Daisies. The cheerful yellow blossoms don’t look like a rarity but in fact they are so specialized they are threatened. They thrive on almost bare limestone rock in locations around the Great Lakes.<\/p>\n At some time around 2003-2008 long after the quarry closed, Guelph university researchers and volunteers planted some alvar species at the preserve as part of a research program aimed at preserving at risk species. Lakeside Daisies were introduced to Fletcher Creek Ecological Preserve. You can read about this in the Hamilton Field Naturalist newsletter.<\/strong> <\/a>They like it here and are often reported to iNaturalist.<\/p>\n So my second goal was to see if I could find a Lakeside Daisy in bloom. I knew the walk would be much longer than was ‘safe’ but I figured I would try with lots and lots of rest breaks along the trail. And I am proud to report I made it! Although some of the flowers were finishing, several plants were still in full bloom on May 30 2025.<\/p>\n On my ramble, I stopped and sat on my rollator walker every 3 to 10 metres to rest my injured leg. At each stop, I tried to observe what was around me, whether it was insects, birds or plants. Imagine my surprise when I looked sideways and found I was parked beside a thriving group of Orange-fruited Horse Gentian plants.<\/p>\n The last time I encountered these plants, they were so far off trail I could barely distinguish their blossoms. These ones were right beside the trail encouraging a close inspection! The flowers are tucked into the junction of the leaves and the stem.<\/p>\n I’m used to seeing Philadelphia Fleabane. It has lots of pale pink flowers and grows well beside trails in many parks in Mississauga and Oakville. I also am familiar with a plant I call Daisy Fleabane which has lots of white flowers. However, I noticed a plant was reported from Fletcher Creek that has only one or a few large flowers on a long fuzzy stem which is another type of fleabane I was not familiar with yet. So I looked for it when I arrived.<\/p>\n This fleabane, called Robin’s Plantain, is very common at Fletcher Creek along the main trail. I had no trouble finding plants to photograph.<\/p>\n I saw several insects visiting these flowers including a Clearwing moth.<\/p>\n What I’m unsure of is where it got the name Robin’s Plantain. I haven’t found an easy solution to that puzzle.<\/p>\n Another plant I hoped to find, even if I had to cut my trip short, was Blue-eyed Grass. Like Polygala, I haven’t seen any in too many years. So when I found my first blossom I took a lot of photos and applauded myself for being so observant.<\/p>\n Then, on my weary way back to the parking lot, I started seeing Blue-eyed Grass all over the place. Apparently it was too early or cool or something when I first arrived for the blossoms to open. On the way back, I saw huge patches of it growing happily along the meadow like parts of the trail.<\/p>\n After agonizing over the three types of Blue-eyed Grass in Ontario, I am 95% sure these are Strict Blue-eyed Grass, also known as Common Blue-eyed Grass.<\/p>\n Another plant sharing these fields was a type of Pussytoes.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nAlmost the Last Day for Canada Mayflower<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nLakeside Daisies Are Threatened and Attractive<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nInspecting While Sitting Helps Naturalist Find Gentians<\/h2>\n
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\nYou can see that many of the flowers had already finished by the end of May. It’s surprising they don’t show up more to casual passersby since they are bright red but somehow they get over-looked.<\/p>\nWhen a Fleabane Is a Plantain Does Its Fruit Look Like Bananas?<\/h2>\n
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\nThe flower stem is very fuzzy and so are the basal leaves.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a>The flowers of Robin’s Plantain are quite large and showy.<\/p>\nThis Blue-eyed Girl Looks for Blue-eyed Grass<\/h2>\n
<\/a>A somewhat wilted Blue-eyed Grass blossom.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n