Backyard and Beyond

Starting out from Brooklyn, an amateur naturalist explores our world.

As John Burroughs said, “The place to observe nature is where you are.”

Blue Flag

Iris versicolorBlue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor) blooming now. These are also known as Wild Iris, Harlequin Blueflag, and Northern Blue Flag. Look for them in swamps, marshes, and wet shorelines from Virginia to Canada. Watch honeybees and native bees land on the large petal, which must look AMAZING in their ultraviolet-shifted vision, and scoot down into the nectary through the roofed-over passage. Sometimes they’ll exit on the side if they are small enough.

5 responses to “Blue Flag”

  1. Cheers me up to see this!

    1. Near to me at Brooklyn Bridge Park, a little farther away at Prospect Park.

  2. Ms. Carol Gracie

    Beautiful photo! Love to see some plants interspersed among the birds.

    Carol

  3. I’m woking on ’em.

  4. What a great picture!

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