Don't overlook anything in nature!

A rock is never just a rock;

It is a living garden of itself!

Summer blooms all around!

Bottlebrush Buckeye is considered a tree but rarely grows to tree size. It is related to the red buckeye, which is slightly larger; both of these can be seen on the lower road near the bamboo stand and at other places. The blooms give way to nuts called buckeyes, which are poisonous to humans and cattle; but squirrels love them. The Ohio Buckeye is the state tree of Ohio, hence the nickname of the University.

Almost everyone is familiar with the many beautiful varieties of azaleas, and many people plant them in their yards for decoration. In Philp's Garden at Reflection Riding, Sringtime is showy with splashes of various colors of azaleas. At least one Flame Azalea still blooms there today.

Rosinweed is a member of the Aster family. Ancients prized its juice as a medicine and used it dried as a condiment. The birds love its seeds. Make the curve past the Siren Pool and see it growing on the right side of the road; or hurry to the Visitors Center and see one growing in a pot, ready for you to buy to enhance your own garden.

A moment to reflect:

The outdoors isn't an escape from real life; it's the basis for it.

Every petal matters

He loves me, he loves me not...

The Oxeye Daisy, sometimes called Moon Daisy, Dog Daisy, even Common Daisy,  has 20 or more petals, thus making it ideal for the old game of pulling off one petal at a time, the last one telling whether he or she loves you or not.  

This flower is prolific and spreads rapidly when left alone.  However, if you are a farmer, you may not want it in your pasture, as cows will not eat it, allowing it to multiply more rapidly.

 

Is this flower a daisy?  It is Fleabane, often called Daisy Fleabane.  

The name fleabane comes from an old belief that this flower dried repels fleas.  

This roadside flower is often confused with the very similar Robin's Plantain. Both may be white or pinkish; and as the blooms are so much smaller than those of Oxeye Daisy, the petals are basically uncountable.  Like some other flowers, for instance Oakleaf Hydrangea, they may turn pink at the end of their bloom time. 

"All God's children got wings..."

Nature's small creatures love our Arboretum. Alongside the pond and at other places on the property you may see butterflies, such as this fritillary on Butterfly Weed.

 

Bees and their cousins enjoy the same flowers that butterflies do. This bee is finding nectar on Mountain Mint in our butterfly garden.

You may also see several varieties of dragonflies, such as this blue Spangled Skimmer with the beautiful transparent wings, always found near water, here at our lower pond.  The white spots with black tips on  its wings are called stigmas.

Reflection Riding's David Fulmer Memorial Butterfly Garden is blooming!

Come see our butterfly garden!

Purple hyssop is in full bloom now. Walk behind our education offices and see splashes of color, which attract many small winged creatures.

Is honeysuckle a weed or a flower? Depends on where you find or plant it. Coral honeysuckle makes a lovely climbing decoration, as does the nearby yellow honeysuckle climbing on a post.