Tall Bellflower

Campanula americana is a common native that tolerates the deep shade of mesic woods but often shows up along trail edges, forested road edges, and near treefalls where a little sunlight gets in. Common in northern Indiana, it's my guess that it's common all over the state, with a possible exception of the prairie counties in the northwest corner. The flowers are attractive and unusual, and if it was a rare plant we'd go crazy over seeing it. At any rate, it's a native and we should enjoy it when we see it. Photographed in rich woods in rural LaPorte County, Indiana.

Harebell

Campanula rotundifolia ranges pretty much all over North America, with the exception of the southeastern US. In northern Indiana, it is occasional in sandy Black Oak savannas and frequent on the foredunes of Lake Michigan. The specific epithet "rotundifolia" draws attention to the rounded basal leaves, which, in my experience are more often reniform (kidney shaped). The cauline leaves are linear. This plant can be difficult to photograph because the flowers almost always are dancing around in the breeze on their delicate stems. Photographed on the foredunes of Lake Michigan in Porter County, Indiana on July 11, 2013.

Land of Flowers 5

Asimina angustifolia
This pawpaw was growing in a very sandy soil in a sunny powerline corridor in Madison County. It was a frequent low-growing shrub. I imagine that the gopher tortoises like the fruit.

Campanula floridana
This flower was frequent in the under-grazed sections of the cattle pastures in Okeechobee County.

Kalmia hirsuta
Hairy Wicky was growing in a wetland right on the county line between Madison and Lafayette County.

Passiflora incarnata
This passionflower was growing in the same sandy, sunny powerline corridor as the pawpaw in Madison County.

Richardia grandiflora
This attractive weed was growing along the shoulder of a highway in Martin County.

Ruellia caroliniensis
This wild petunia was growing along the margins of wetlands in Levy County.

Random Plants From The Indiana Dunes

Harebell is occasional in those few Black Oak savanna remnants that still have a little sunlight getting in, and abundant on thinly wooded foredunes near Lake Michigan. Its thin stems allow it to dance on the breeze - rather delightful until you attempt to get a photo. Cauline leaves are linear - the species name refers to basal leaves that are somewhat round in outline, though in my view they tend to be reniform.

Campanula rotundifolia (Harebell)

The French fur trappers called this little subshrub "Petit The Des Bois," meaning "Little Tea of the Woods."

Gaultheria procumbens (Wintergreen, Teaberry)

Asclepias incarnata (Swamp Milkweed) and Honey Bee

Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Milkweed) and Honey Bee

Campanulaceae

Harebell, Campanula rotundifolia (named for the elusive basal leaves)
was flowering it's little butt off today on the foredunes of the great
Lake Michigan. I therefore lay claim to the Bluebell or Bellflower
Family, Campanulaceae. This was a high-res picture, so I just cropped
most of it away.

All the best!

Keith

"Use what talent you possess: the woods would be very silent if no
birds sang except those that sang best."
-Henry Van Dyke