Blooming now in the riparian buffer around the pond - - Virginia Mountain Mint, Pycnanthemum virginianum. Look for them as 2 or 3 foot tall bushy plants. Because the individual flowers are tiny, this plant is an important food for short-tongued bees. They can reach into the flowers easily to drink the nectar. In the photo above, you can see the clusters of tiny white flowers with delicate purple spots. The flowers open one at a time, providing nectar over many days.
Below, this subtle plant grows among yellow Birdsfoot Trefoil and daisy-like Fleabane.
