Deer at the Prairie

Neil Smith Wildlife Refuge, Prairie City, Iowa.

Doe

A young White Tail Deer, somewhere in Story County, Iowa.

She was running like she was injured.

White Tail Deer

Trumpeter Swans

I do believe that this nesting pair are Trumpeter Swans.

Cup Fungi

Side view

Just fruited

Older fruiting body

Spring Beauty

I believe this is Spring Beauty (Claytonia lancelota) but I could be wrong the leaves are a bit narrow but after last years floods and this past winter being so bitter anything is possible at this point. There were only two sepals on each blossom, will know more by the weekend as more things will be in bloom.

Rough Leaved Dogwood

I found out that this plant is a Rough Leaved Dogwood or Cornus drummondii

Blue Vervain

I've never seen this plant with white blossoms before, normally they are lavender to purple, this year, however, mosthave white blossoms. This leaves me wondering if the excess rain has something to with this.

NOTE: (08/20/08) It would appear that blue vervain has a rare white varient this year is a flood year and almost all the blue vervain in my area has white blossoms!

Great White Egret

There were three white egrets in this oxbow off of the main river.

White Trout Lily