In the midst of Marblehead quarry is the Lakeside Daisy Preserve, home to some of the rarest plants in Ohio. The Slender Foxglove, Agalinis tenuifolia was in the final days of its late summer bloom. This miniature Scrophulariaceae (think Snap-dragon family) is right at home on the limestone pavement of the quarry floor.
Sunrise peaks over the edge of the quarry, highlighting the Red-cedar, Juniperus virginiana trees (another lime-lover) and the low growing, purplish stems of the afore mentioned Slender Foxglove. The colors were breath-taking and I had the good fortune of sharing this morning with good friends.
Orchid Alert! The Great Plains Ladies'-tresses, Spiranthes magnicamporum, seemed to be everywhere this year! This finger-sized plant is just about to open, and each orchid bloom will spiral as it goes. Careful where you step- that "grass" is the foreground is actually the leaves to one of Ohio's rarest plants: Lakeside Daisy, Hymenoxys herbacea. You must visit Marblehead in May ( same as IMB Day) to get the full effect of this little beauty. It covers the quarry floor with a blush of yellow. Go here for a photo...
Every party has a crasher, and Greg and Leslie Cornett wandered off to the far back edge of the preserve to peer into the Giant Reed, Phragmites australis- the invasive plant that has become the uninvited guest in so many of Ohio's wetlands. 
............................................... photo by: Greg CornettAh, at least this invasive plant provided a resting spot for a lovely Marsh Wren... our token bird for this trip!
Thanks friends, for sharing the day and the whole Midwest Birding Weekend- let's do it again in 2011.
