Visited Kraklauer Creek Park again a few days ago.  In fact my first visit on July 28th was followed by another on August 5th.  There was much to take in along this waterway that is the centerpiece for Kraklauer Park.  Wildflowers are featured in a colorful spectacle on the banks of this little creek.

This photo was taken on July 28, before the absence of rain reduced the flow to a fraction of what appears here.

Black Eyed-susans are visually arresting with bright yellow daisy shaped petals contrasted with a dark dome-shaped cone.  The species was a native American medicinal herb.

Bee Balm fascinates me.  I enjoy the lacy filigree blue petals.  The plant is a hermaphroditic with male and female aspects to each blossom.  This plant too was used for medicinal purposes by Blackfoot, Menominee, Ojibwa and Winnebago people.  The leaves exude a fragrant oil when crushed.  Bee Balm attracts hummingbirds and pollinating insects.

The Purple Coneflower is also common to this wildflower community.  This flower species conveys robust strength to me. The scientific name is Echinacea, derived from the Greek word ἐχῖνος (ekhinos), meaning “hedgehog”. They have a spiny central disc. They are members of the sunflower family.

This photo of a thistle plant was taken on August 5th.  The creek had dwindled to a trickle of its flow of a few days earlier –a foot or two wide.  The mid summer dry spell affects everything.  Water is life.  I really liked this photo for the stark image of life that it presents.  This drought resistant plant, sharp edged leaf structure, the spiky flower established by a strong woody stem thrust into the sunlight.

Queen Anne’s Lace is all around.  Here a honeybee is busily harvesting nectar and pollen.  I watched as it systematically moved back and forth across the florets of the flower head collecting nourishment.

It is easy to forget that small mammals are certain to find a home in the environment of the creek.  The field mice and similar tiny sentient creatures are sufficiently aware to remain in hiding when a human is present.  I got lucky in this case as the tall wild sunflower plants provided a screen.  The muskrat that was swimming up stream had his back to me.  A small wild animal will almost never pose for the camera.  After I captured this photo, the animal heard/saw me and off it went upstream in a demonstration of it’s swimming ability.

I felt like cheering it on!