Ruby Dapperling

Ruby Dapperling

Leucoagaricus rubrotinctus

Aug. 14th, 2023

St. Louis County, Missouri, USA

Olivia R. Myers

@oliviarosaline

Purple Cress

Cardamine douglassii

Also known as Limestone Cress, this species in the mustard family features clusters of light purple flowers in early spring and can be found in wet and swampy forests with calcium carbonate rich soils. It's native to parts of the eastern United States and southern Ontario, Canada.

The plants I photographed are part of an isolated population remaining in a tiny bottomland forest remnant in St. Charles County, Missouri. Unfortunately, the rest of the forest has been lost due to suburban sprawl and what little of it remains has many invasive species, including winter creeper, callery pear, and japanese honeysuckle trying to encroach from surrounding developments and outcompete native plants like this one.

March 12th & 13th, 2024

St. Charles County, Missouri, USA

Olivia R. Myers

@oliviarosaline

Eastern Redbud Tree

Cercis canadensis

This small tree in the legume family showcases lovely pink blooms in spring and is native to much of eastern North America. They grow in a variety of habitats, but prefer well-drained slopes in woods without many other plants to compete with. Its flowers are pollinated by carpenter bees and other bees with long tongues, and the leaves provide food for several caterpillar and moth species. The flowers on this tree are also edible and contain beneficial anthocyanins, a group of antioxidants.

March 19th, 2024

St. Charles County, Missouri, USA

Olivia R. Myers

@oliviarosaline

Small-Funnel Veil Amanita

Amanita multisquamosa

Amanita ser. Pantherinae

Also known as the White Panther Amanita, this species is found in forests east of the Great Plains in the United States. It has a mycorrhizal association with oaks and can sometimes be found near conifers as well. Likely psychoactive and presumed toxic. ☠️

Aug. 14th, 2023

St. Louis County, Missouri, USA

Olivia R. Myers

@oliviarosaline

Don't worry, bee happy.

This adorable bumblebee buzzed over and photobombed my flower picture.

Aug. 15th, 2023

St. Charles County, Missouri, USA

Olivia R. Myers

@oliviarosaline

Dwarf Larkspur

Delphinium tricorne

A favorite of hummingbirds and butterflies when it blooms. This spring ephemeral is native to the central and eastern United States. The flowers can range in color from white to all shades of purple.

April 12th, 2023

St. Louis County, Missouri, USA

Olivia R. Myers

@oliviarosaline