Put on a pair of old sneakers and go for a short hike in the Grasse River. Start at the hamlet of Morley and splash your way downstream. With the current low water level a good portion of the river bed lies exposed and it’s possible to go about a mile downstream without getting more than knee deep in the water. The river banks are private property so you can’t take the short hike on foot without getting them wet. You either wade or trespass. I suggest wading like I do.

Grasse River – looking upstream to Morley

Before I get to the wildflowers I need to mention this section of the river is a great spot to go small mouth bass fishing. They run small but they’re plentiful and will keep ya more than busy reeling them in. There’s nearly always a ‘keeper’ in the bunch and catching your limit isn’t all that unusual. Me, I’m all catch and release – the water gets pretty warm and the bass tend to get mighty grubby. Bass aren’t the only thing lurking below the water’s surface. I’ve pulled out Walleye, Perch and have even hooked onto a good sized Muskie here. The fishing is good till you can’t wade any deeper, after that you need a boat.

A rock ledge overhanging the south bank of the river

Cardinal Flowers dot the river bank

There were plenty of Monkey-Flowers growing where the water had receded. One plant was doomed, left stranded in a bit of mud stuck on a rock. I don’t give it much chance of surviving.

Square-stemmed Monkey-flower

I should go back and rescue it. ‘Blue’ flowers are hard to come by and I think this one would appreciate being placed in my pond garden.

Square Stemmed Monkey Flower – Mimulus ringens

I can’t make up my mind which of the photos to post.

So you get all 3.

Another blue wildflower on the river bank is Common Skullcap. There are more this year than I ever remember but it just might be a matter of timing.

Common Skullcap – Scutellaria galericulata (S epilobiifolia)

Another look, this time a bit closer at the cap.

And a look at the leaves of this skullcap.

Although the name implies this wildflower is blue I see it as more of a purple. Blue Vervain has tiny flowers but the multiple flower spikes are hard to miss contrasted against the river.

Blue Vervain – Verbena hastata

The flowers bloom a few at a time while advancing up the spike.

A look at a Blue Vervain leaf.

That’s it for blue. Time for yellow.

Sneezeweed, I assume it gets it’s common name from the fact that the powdered leaves of this wildflower induces sneezing. Native Americans also powdered dried florets to use as a snuff to treat head colds and catarrh.

Sneezeweed – Helenium autumnale

And just because they’re so pretty – another photo of them.

Warning:
Poisonous to cattle, fish, worms and insects. It may cause dermatitis – I assume to humans.

The next yellow flower was a real find for me. This is the first time I’ve ‘documented’ this plant. I may have seen it before but never managed to get a photo or place it in my memory.

Great St. Johnswort – Hypericum ascyron (Hypericum pyramidatum)

Giant might be a better name, this St. Johnswort can grow to 6 feet in height and the flowers are huge (up to 3 inch across) compared to other species of this plant. Even the seed pods are over sized.

Time to wrap up this post. I’ve already bogged down the loading time with too many photos. It’s time to flutter off but not before I post a couple more photos.

A Red Admiral Butterfly on Joe Pye-weed

Canadian Geese on the Grasse

Where in the world is Morley, NY?

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