posted: Oct 14, 2008

The vibrant yellow, red, orange, pink, and purple colors of spring and summer have mostly faded on Paradise Ridge and have been replaced with the more subtle brown, yellow, and green hues of autumn.  I enjoy these changes but a bit of color is always welcome and that is why working in the Palouse Prairie is so rewarding. 



Fortunately for us we have snow bank to snow bank blooms.  In the fall MOST of the plants have set their seed and are dormant but a few such as the prairie gentian (Gentiana affinis) are still in bloom.  Pictured here is the prairie gentian in full bloom a couple of weeks ago followed by the progressive fading of the vibrant blue to brown as the seed develops. 



This is one of our clues that lets us know when the seed is ready to collect.  At Thorn Creek Native Seed Farm one of our goals is to have seed available from plants that will bring color from early spring to late fall.  Other late blooming plants are Missouri goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis) and western aster (Aster occidentalis).  Not only do these plants give color for us to enjoy but they provide habitat and food for insects and other wildlife right into the winter months.  Which is a very good thing!