Viewing post #680138 by jmorth

August of every year prompts an excursion to an isolated drainage ditch out in the vast acreage of central Illinois soybean and corn fields. This annual expedition is to capture pics of the elusive Red Cardinal Flower (Lobelia) in it's habitat.
This ditch is surrounded by the aforementioned farm fields w/ no residential or commercial (farm) operation centers as far as the eye can see. The road is a single lane dirt one. I discovered the site years ago when I worked as a field inspector for an agronomic company. The ditch's ability to maintain as a viable ecological wildflower niche is amazing. This type of spot in the wild (so to speak) is getting quite rare around here.
Some of the pics aren't the best as they were from the other side of the ditch. Ditch is over 6' deep and probably 15' or so across. Another factor may be age and use of camera (Canon SX 130, has taken in excess of 75000 pics over the last few years). My less than perfect eyesight doesn't help either...
Lobelia




Swamp Milkweed - favorite for Monarchs and bees



bees Monarch buds

White Milkweed


Elderberry


stalking the wild asparagus
brought some home

Bottlebrush bush
Viceroy BF

Arrowleaf
lobelia w/ arrowleaf flower to the right



Boneset


Rose hips


mint


Oat grass




Isolation of area

tracks in the ditch base

Members of the expedition - wife (Deby), dog (Plato), and myself (shadow)