Madison, WI

Started walk 6:30 a.m.

Sunny and cool. Dew on the ground from last night's rain. It clouded up towards the end of the walk.

Today I got a better photo of Spiderwort and studied the two unidentified flowers a little closer.

One of the plants looks like a pussy willow from the distance. It grows in the prairie, is about 3 feet tall and is spindly. It has a small white peapod shaped blossoms with yellow stamens peppered along smooth purple/brown aqueous spindles. The plant has ovate, toothless leaves on a petiole leaf stalk. (Can you tell that I'm using my manual?). By checking another book I believe that I'm seeing a wild flower known as Prairie False Indigo.

The other plant is found near water and fences. It's a loose shrub with cluster of small purple flowers with yellow stamens. Its small petals slant back like a winded umbrella. Again, by checking another manual I learn that this flower is called Deadly Nightshade. Every part of this plant is poisonous. I'm glad that I didn't try a taste test. Coffee -- Costa Rican -- good. Hot Oatmeal/Blackberry Muffin.