Beautiful flora

I've seen scores of interesting plants on this trip, a run through the upper reaches of the Great Lakes. If you are from down my way, Ohio, it is a real treat to see these northerners, many of which are very rare down that way. Following are some of the species that I've photographed over the past two days.

North shore of Lake Michigan. Buffered by impressive sand dunes, filled with impressive plants. I was excited to find the plant in the bottom center of the photo.

Lake Huron Tansy, Tanacetum bipinnatum ssp. huronense, confined to sandy dunes bordering lakes Huron, Michigan, and Superior.

Beach Pea, Lathyrus japonicus, another beach dune specialist.

A truly elfin dogwood, Bunchberry, Cornus canadensis, which can carpet large areas of cool woods.

Teaberry, Gaultheria procumbens.

Northern Blue Flag, Iris versicolor. It is abundant in wetlands around the upper Great Lakes.

I was delighted to see this patch of a truly remarkable wildflower.

Twinflower, Linnaea borealis, named for the great Swedish naturalist and father of the system of binomial nomenclature, Carolus Linnaeus. This delicate beauty was allegedly his favorite plant.

Although it stands but a few inches in height, Twinflower is actually a tiny shrublet. The flowers dangle on pendant wiry pedicels, and emit a wonderful fragrance. This species is one of the true delights of northern forest botany.

Wood Lily, Lilium philadelphicum. In this spot it was growing as a roadside weed of sorts.

Spreading Dogbane, Apocynum androsaemifolium, a very showy dogbane and quite common locally.

It was a treat to see this little figwort growing commonly in conifer-dominated forests. It is Cow-wheat, Melampyrum lineare.

Pink Lady's-slipper, Cypripedium acaule. There were large platoons of this incredible orchid covering acidic woods, intermixed with many other interesting plants.

A mist of Narrow-leaved Cottongrass, Eriophorum angustifolium, drifts across a wet sedge meadow. At least this is what I think it is, but it's not one I''m familiar with. If anyone knows better and can correct the ID, please let me know.

This swale, part of a ribbed fen complex, was chockful of intriguing plants, and I also saw some great dragonflies. While walking in to photograph the plants, I kicked up a Wilson's Snipe.