My first hike along the West Beach trail came in early June. Although there were plenty of wildflowers in bloom, the Eastern Prickly Pear cacti took the show. Not only would few people expect to find cacti along the shore of Lake Michigan, but they also have very showy flowers.
The West Beach trail is characterized by very sandy soil and fairly open terrain. It was a particularly beautiful day on this visit.
The flowers of the Eastern Prickly Pear cacti blossom atop the fruit. They are an intense yellow with deep oranges at the bases of the petals.
Spurge, either “flowering” or “false” I am not sure which. It was the symmetry of the branchings which caught my eye.
Wild roses are found throughout the park. I think this one is a Smooth Rose (Blanda Rosaceae).
I love the delicate structure of these “seed dispersal” devices.
The flower is a Silver Cinquefoil. I have no idea what the little blue insect is however.
The symmetry of the blossoms is beautiful.