prairie loosestrife, Lysimachia quadriflora

Prairie loosestrife grows in fens. Fens are fascinating, supporting lush plant life but doing it with soil and water that most plants can't tolerate. To live that lush life, those plants have to be happy with a very basic pH. Plants that do like that include a lot of sedges and grasses, and those are most of what you'll see in a fen in the early months of the season. Then in June and early July, the showy flowers take the stage. Prairie loosestrife is one that helps announce this part of the show. When you see it, you know the rest of the season will be a cascade of colorful performances. Prairie loosestrife grows in AL, AR, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, ND, NY(E), OH, OK, PA, SD, TN(S), VA, WI, WV, MB, and ON. Ives Fen Preserve, Lenawee Co MI, 7/25/15.