Lupine and Butterflies

One of my favorite times at the Indiana Dunes is right now---the sand dunes are covered with wildflowers. And when the Lupines bloom the woods glow with the lilac colored flowers. I love the whirling green leaves of this plant that is the host plant of the endangered Karner Blue Butterfly.

The Karner Blue, a rather picky sort, relies on several continuous Lupine tracks for its existence that occurs basically around the Great Lakes Area.

Even without considering the endangered butterfly, though, the Lupine bloom is a silent firework display of beauty and color that happens every year and is happening in the Dunes woods right now. Take a minute to admire a closeup of the beauty:

  

Wildflowers for May

No picture does justice to the abundant wildflowers blooming in the woods of Indiana this year. A May Day hike through the Indiana Dunes revealed Dune after Dune topped with Lupine and Hoary Puccoon.

The Hoary Puccoon's yellow accentuates the wonderful purple of those Lupines that are so important to our endangered butterfly.

Hoary Puccoon's name means hairy (hoary) and flower that is good for dyes(puccoon). What a name for such a beauty!