Mesic prairie as far as they eye can see - stunning.
Young praying mantis
Rana pipiens, Northern leopard frog. A "species of special concern" in Indiana.
Midland painted turtle, Chrysemys picta. This turtle was found as it was moving from one pond to another. Seems it has suffered both a seemingly debilitating injury to a front corner of its plastron and what look like burns to one of the bridges of its shell. Everything appears healed and the turtle didn't seem impaired - more evidence that these animals are a lot more resilient than many make them out to be.
Xeric prairie - one of the most beautiful and calm places I have ever been to. This location exemplifies the classic desert environment, only in the Midwest.
Small Eastern prickly pear, Opuntia humifusa.
One of many clumps of this most intriguing plant.
The lone blooming plant - likely the last plant to flower this later into the season. My goal on this trip was to find a flowering prickly pear, and this made me very happy to see.
Lead plant (Amorpha canescens)
