What else is blooming on the prairie

As I've probably said before, at least 34 percent of the world's ills could be resolved if more people took long walks, or parked themselves somewhere to watch birds a couple of times a week, or sat down on the bank of a pond with a fishing pole --- just to sit on the bank of a pond with a fishing pole without the ego-driven need to catch anything.

Before becoming besotted with butterflies Saturday morning, I was doing inventory --- of what's blooming now on the tiny patches of prairie remnants that I have easy access to. Here are some of my finds, most natives to the territory, but a couple of intruders, too.

The first Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia birta) of the season (top), among the first in the aster family to bloom.

Pale Purple Coneflowers (Echinacea pallida), also an early riser among the asters.

The first Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium) I've seen, a sure sign that the transition into summer has taken places.

More Butterfly MIlkweed (Asclepias tuberosa).

A little Spotted St. John's Wort (Hypericum punctatum).

Only one False Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides).

Quite a bit of Prairie Coreopsis (Coreopsis palmata).

And then the intruders --- tiny Deptford Pinks (Dianthus armeria), a visitor from Europe.

And Sulphur Cinquefoil (Potentilla recta), considerably more invasive --- although not specifically here --- also native to Europe.

Elsewhere along the trail --- the sky was a stunning blue.

And the wild plums were coming on.