August 9, 2026
An American goldfinch (Spinus tristis), enjoying the late summer bounty of seeds available to him. He’s sitting atop a bunch of Gray-headed Coneflowers (Ratibida pinnata).
Goldfinches amuse me as they approach something that they want to get seed from. Landing on a bunch or a stem and slowly sinking as it takes on the bird’s weight.
Going down.
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July 23, 2026
The Gray-headed Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) showing off its natural tendency to grow tall and bend one way or the other, usually all in the same direction. A lovely brilliant yellow to cheer the world.
The flower heads are made up of as many as 15 ray florets growing to 2 1/4 inches long. At the center are 200 or even more disc florets that are yellow-green to dark purplish-brown. Those disk heads when crushed have a scent much like anise.
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