Fall Flowers

We're coming to the end of the wildflower season on Green Mountain.  Even though there's a month of summer left the Fall flowers are nearing full bloom  Liatris is al over the mountain with its purple spikes and there are a few Purple Tansy Asters (Machaeranthera canescens) can be found blooming.  But most of the Fall flowers are the gold of Goldenrod, Rabbitbrush and Snakeweed.

Rabbitbrush is the last color we'll have on the mountain but these bushes with their bright yellow flowers brighten up the brown grassy slopes of Autumn.  The species name is Chrysothamnus nauseosus, which makes it sound a lot worse than it is.  The only nauseating thing you might find is that it's often covered with insects anxious to get the last bit of sustenance before winter arrives.Here's a c;oseup of the flowers.

Rabbitbrush

Snakeweed forms small round clumps of bright yellow flowers, similar in color to Rabbitbrush.   This year they are numerous on Green Mountain.  We still have a few other flowers like Chicory and Alfalfa blooming, but by far the yellows dominate this time of year.