A River Runs Through It

Here we were going over the bridge which was closed less than 15 minutes after we went over it, again this IS in Ames - Squaw Creek.

The water is very close to the road here, we were becoming nervous while sitting in traffic, we could see the water rising while we waited for the light.

I won't be gettng out of town today due to the flooding, which is as bad or worse than 1993 they are now saying. Ames has literally become an island again. This is a local park here in Ames, the river is back about 300 to 400 yards and down about 15 feet, or so, when it's within it's banks.

Star of Bethlehem

We were out at some friends today collecting horse apples for our garden and got to see this rare beauty!

Ferns

These live in my neighbors yard and have taken over his shade garden, still lovely though.

Moss

Tonight it's all about moss!

Wildflowers

Wild prairie violets and wood anemone, a very pretty site in the woods!

Marigolds

Dandelions

Jack in the Pulpit

One more couldn't resist!

Jack in the Pulpit

Here you can barely see a blossom on the other side of the leaves, this plant is on the immature side still.

A rather healthy grouping of Jack in the Pulpit, the leaves have grown up to dwarf the blossoms, in some places you can see the blossoms peaking through the leaves.

Here are the leaves, it took Brenda and I three tries to find this patch, in the span of a week it's leaves had grown up over the blossoms hiding them and quite well.

Columbine

Native Columbine

Wild Phlox or Sweet William

Wild Phlox, Sweet William, and there are a few other names.

Jacob's Ladder

I was quite suprised to find this beauty in the woods here!

Bloomin Shrub

I'm not sure what under story shrub, or tree, this is, but it has lovely dark coral blossoms.

Fungi

Polyporus squamosus

Morels

A couple of morels surrounded by Virginia Waterleaf and other plants.

Cedar Apple Rust

I took this one this evening, I expect it will have changed even more by tomorrow morning.

Tick Bite

Tick bite going sour on me! It doesn't help that I was scratched by a wild raspberry bush in the same spot either. Since this is on the back of my thigh I can't tell if there's anything in the area other than what you see here - thank God for digital cameras!!! Dog ticks are horrendous here this spring, don't know why but they are thick and they are hungry!

Cedar Rust Apple

I went out this morning and it was surprisingly different than yesterdays slimy stage! Still beautiful and still a nuisance to orchardist everywhere.

Fungi

The gills were a brownish to dark grey color.

Polyporus squamosus

I found the fungus broken off and laying on the ground next to the log.

The underside of the fungus, it was very spongy, not woody at all.

As you can see it's bigger than my hand.

Virginia Bluebells

Buttercup

Racoon Tracks

Dh and found these racoon tracks on the main trail tonight down by the river.

Wild Ginger Blossoms

I felt pretty lucky to find the wild ginger in blossom tonight, dh spotted the plant not even five minutes after I told him I was hoping to get a photo of the blossoms.

Jack in the Pulpit

A group of Jack in the Pulpit

Unfurling Jack in the Pulpit

Jack in the Pulpit

Morel

Found this guy this evening!

Lichens

Several lichens on this log all soft from last nights heavy rains.

Cedar Apple Rust

Cedar Apple Rust Spore Stage

Cedar Apple Rust