Going To Seed

The wildflowers of summer are coming to an end. The transformation is different for each one. The process of creating and spreading seeds for the cycle of life is an amazing work of art. Plants produce fluff, or parachutes, or pods, or shells, or berries to protect those precious seeds of life.

The forest is still lush and green. The leaves have not put on their autumn garb, but the aspens sound crisper than they did earlier in the summer.

The saxifrage was yellow, now it's ready to spread tiny bits 

of fluff all over the wild garden.

The tall prairie grasses bow their heads laden with shells filled with seeds.

The paintbrush blooms get longer as the summer progresses. Soon they will go to seed, but they are not ready yet. Did you know it's illegal to pick paintbrush flowers in WY? I just found that out. It's a protected state flower.

The snowberries are started to appear. The deer love to snack on the berries..

And I must not forget the lovely salsify with the biggest ball of parachutes readying for the winter.