Coltsfoot the Undandelion
Wildflower season is off to a good start in the north county. One of the early and easiest wildflowers to spot is Coltsfoot since it often grows along the road. I spotted these at Higley Flow, (St. Lawrence County, NY). I missed them at first, they had their faces turned away from me and I drove right by. The flowers follow the sun and I’m just not bright enough to pay attention to. On the return trip they couldn’t be missed. The bright yellow flowers glared at me from the bank along the road.
Many people probably pass this flower by thinking they’re dandelions. From a distance they do look like them but when you get up close you can see the difference. First off there are no leaves present when the plant blooms. Those will come later but right now all that is present is the odd looking stalk with the flower on top.
It prefers very loose sandy soil and another great place to find this plant is in the many sand pits around the county.
I had to add this photo – the macro makes it look (to me) like a giant among boulders. It also is a good view of the flowers backside and stalk.
I liked this group photo and since it was long past due to change my desktop wallpaper I sized an image just for that use. Feel free to use it yourself for that purpose.
Click the display image to open the larger background sized one – You figure out how to use it if you want it. (hint – right click on large image for menu)
Last but not least – I couldn’t let you leave without a macro shot
She loves me
She loves me not
She loves me
Better stop there or she’ll be gone before I finish.
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April 16th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
I like the hexagon shape in the middle. I’ll have to look a little closer at dandelions next time I see them, to make sure they really are. Maybe they’re really these instead.
April 16th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Very nice! We don’t have those here – just dandelions. But I like fields of dandelions so that’s okay with me. Unfortunate for my neighbors on both side who always try to eradicate all dandelions. They do get my seeds.
April 16th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
Beautiful pictures(-: Much prettier then a dandelion(-:
April 16th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
They are so pretty it’s too bad they are alien. We have some here, but not nearly as many as you seem to have in NY. All my good pictures of them I got in NY. Of course you can eat the dandelion!
April 17th, 2009 at 12:06 am
I have given you the Life is Grand Award. See http://myqualityday.blogspot.com/2009/04/life-is-grand.html
April 17th, 2009 at 7:53 am
Thanks for the visit and comments. I did not know teasel was grown commercially. What was it used for?
April 17th, 2009 at 9:30 am
Very cool! I have wanted to try growing some coltsfoot to have in my yard…need to find some seeds!
April 17th, 2009 at 10:25 am
The more I see, the more I believe that you have planted plastic flowers for the macro view.
They are beautiful especially the leafless stalks and buds.
April 17th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
I need to go back and look at some wildflower I seen the other day.
Maybe I didn’t see a dandelions
Coffee is on.