Verdant Volo views, vertical and horizontal
The vertical picture shows Lysimachia thyrsiflora, known as tufted loosestrife or swamp loosestrife,
The horizontal picture shows a curlingly dry leaf fallen onto the duckweed-covered surface of some water in the Volo Bog State Natural Area in Lake County, Illinois, on June 7. The first photograph comes from the same session.
Portraits of Wildflowers 
These are inspired, Steve.
melissabluefineart
August 20, 2016 at 8:24 AM
Once again, I’m grateful that you led us to this inspiring place.
Steve Schwartzman
August 20, 2016 at 8:25 AM
You are most welcome. I just loved it!
melissabluefineart
August 20, 2016 at 8:26 AM
Too bad it’s 1300 miles away from Austin. If it were 1300 meters I’d gladly hop back by for more.
Steve Schwartzman
August 20, 2016 at 8:28 AM
Too bad indeed. I loved Texas and would really like to come visit you and Eve but that drive is a grueling one. Plus I’m saving up for a house 🙂 I really am just so glad that you came here.
melissabluefineart
August 20, 2016 at 8:34 AM
So are we. We had a great time.
Steve Schwartzman
August 20, 2016 at 8:37 AM
It just occurred to me that you and other nearby people who appreciate the place should get together to create a Volo Blog for Volo Bog.
Steve Schwartzman
August 20, 2016 at 8:31 AM
You are right! There are a lot of missed opportunities there. The woman who is in charge of it is most enthusiastic but somehow always misses the mark. Mostly we have learned to just steer clear and visit the bog itself.
melissabluefineart
August 20, 2016 at 8:33 AM
Sorry to hear she’s gotten bogged down.
Steve Schwartzman
August 20, 2016 at 8:38 AM
You couldn’t resist, could you? 🙂
melissabluefineart
August 20, 2016 at 8:39 AM
I couldn’t desist and I couldn’t resist.
The chance was too good for me to have missed.
Steve Schwartzman
August 20, 2016 at 8:43 AM
I’d never dis your bliss
melissabluefineart
August 20, 2016 at 8:50 AM
I appreciate this.
You’re comment’s not amiss.
Steve Schwartzman
August 20, 2016 at 9:17 AM
I fear that you two’ve become heady,
As your patter’s now becoming steady.
So give us a rest
And spare us your best:
Enough of the rhyming already!
krikitarts
August 20, 2016 at 11:33 AM
“Now you’d like to see stoppage already
Of this banter that’s gone on so steady.
At your latest behest
We will give it a rest,”
Obligingly yielding said he.
Steve Schwartzman
August 20, 2016 at 11:55 AM
The duckweed that covers the bog
might conceal a turtle or frog.
But there’s nothing to say
that a little wordplay
couldn’t burble from under a log.
shoreacres
August 20, 2016 at 12:11 PM
Thanks for making it three in a row. I’d reply in kind except I said I’d give it a rest. And that’s for the best.
Steve Schwartzman
August 20, 2016 at 2:43 PM
I like the colour coordination of both pictures.
Beautywhizz
August 20, 2016 at 5:33 PM
Do you mean within each picture, between the two pictures, or both?
Steve Schwartzman
August 20, 2016 at 6:11 PM
Between the two.
Beautywhizz
August 21, 2016 at 1:54 AM
That’s the coordination I’d intended, the one indicated by the “verdant” in the title.
Steve Schwartzman
August 21, 2016 at 7:13 AM
Duckweed is the perfectly designed water plant!
jane tims
August 20, 2016 at 6:34 PM
It plays off simplicity and does wonderfully well.
Steve Schwartzman
August 20, 2016 at 8:19 PM
I like this loosestrife, a primula, much better than the more common although not related invasive purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria-an actual loosetrife) found all over everywhere.
Steve Gingold
August 22, 2016 at 6:14 AM
My county has only a few native members of the Primulaceae. I’ve not (knowingly) seen any of them, so this was a first for me.
Steve Schwartzman
August 22, 2016 at 8:34 AM
I’ve hears about the invasive Lythrum. Fortunately we have a native species here, L. californicum.
Steve Schwartzman
August 22, 2016 at 8:38 AM