Late May is a spectacular time on the gravel hill prairie. The gravel provides a low-nutrient substrate that keeps vegetation competition to a minimum, and as a result several prairie species that are generally not as competitive have the opportunity to thrive. The photographs that follow are from 28 May 2014 on a gravel hill prairie in McHenry County, Illinois.
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| Viola pedata (Bird's Foot Violet) |
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| Minuartia stricta (Rock Sandwort) |
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| Lithospermum incisum (Fringed Gromwell) |
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| Geum triflorum (Prairie Smoke) |
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| Geum triflorum (Prairie Smoke) in fruit |
