beardtongue on Paul Bunyan

Sorry for the lack of posting. I've been busy with my new job and family things. I'll try to catch up on events, later, but I have to alert you to the large-flowered beardtongue (Penstemon grandiflora) that is blooming along the Paul Bunyan Trail on the east side of Lake Bemidji. It's one of my favorite flowers. It has a stalk of lavendar bugle shaped flowers that have wide mouths for pollination by bumblebees. I saw a few bumblebees working them, too. Also blooming are yellow goatbeards and red columbines.