Griffy Lake has long been a favorite running spot
I took this photo in October while out for a run. I was at Griffy Lake in Bloomington, Indiana. Ever since I attended Indiana University, Griffy Lake has been a favorite spot of mine for running. I started that day at the trails on the south side of the lake, but in an unusual twist, I decided to run down the 3/4 mile hill to the lake. It was incredibly foggy that day, and I wanted to be at lake level.
Once I arrived at the lake, I did my typical run along the creek heading to the east. It was a quiet morning, and I don't recall seeing anyone else on the trail. Those are my favorite runs. The ones where it is just you and nature. I've always said that I'm not a runner; I'm an explorer. Those quiet runs are when I can really soak in my surroundings.
As I left from my run to go back up the hill to my truck, I realized that the sun was rising over the lake. I stopped to take a few photos, crouching down low to have some of the brush alongside the road to create perspective. The fog over Griffy Lake added a dramatic effect to the glowing light of the sun.
The plant in the foreground is one that I've really been struggling to identify. I typically use a few different websites to do any plant or animal identification. I explore other local photos of plants and animals on iNaturalist. I look at wildflowers on USWildflowers or Wildflower.org, the website of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. I have been quite challenged in identifying this plant. With that in mind, I'll give you some fun facts about a few different plants that this might be.
The fog over Griffy Lake added a dramatic effect
What is this Griffy Lake Flower
Fun Facts about Little Rattlepod
- Little Rattlepods are more commonly known as Canada Milkvetch.
- The scientific name is Astragalus canadensis.
- There are more than 2,300 species of Milkvetch.
- Milkvetch is commonly found along riverbanks (or the edge of a lake, as in this photo!).
- The flowers are typically a white to pale-yellow color.
Fun Facts about Beechdrops
- Beechdrops are native to North America.
- They grow to be about one foot tall.
- The scientific name is Epifagus virginia.
- They are obligate parasites, and grow and subsist on the American beech.
- Obligate parasites require a host to complete their lifecycle.
- They are not known to cause damage to the host beech tree.
Fun Facts about Cardinal Flower
- The scientific name is Lobelia cardinalis.
- They are common to the USA, Canada, Mexico, and much of Central America.
- They can grow to be up to 4 feet tall.
- They are typically found in wet places (like alongside a lake, as in this photo!).
- The cardinal flower is toxic, and symptoms can include nausea, exhaustion, convulsions, and coma.
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