Name that Plant

I attended some events at a Celebration of Lincoln Park on Saturday.   Wonderful volunteers with organizations like Sealsitters and Friends of Lincoln Park gave guided tours and information on the flora and fauna and history of the park.  I've been taking flower pictures everywhere I go  and then try to find the names and despite valiant efforts can't pin some of them down.   I did correctly identify this one though taken along Longfellow Creek Legacy trail.  Maybe others already knew this one but I felt triumphant to come up with the name.

wild geranium  (Geranium robertianum)

Sadly though, I learned yesterday that this is an invasive plant that snuffs out the life of native plants.  So I must pull it out when I see it growing in the park.  I felt bad that such a pretty little thing could end this way.  But it turns out that it is also known by another name  "Stinky Bob".   I'll keep that in mind when I'm yanking it out by it's roots.

Here is some of the group trying to identify another plant with various methods from the latest iphone app,  to thumbing through the  well-used book and  to the old-fashioned get down close and take a good look approach. 




Our leader Sharon pointing out the plant 'fringecup'



It was a cool, gray Saturday morning but lovely in this wooded park.  Next time I'll be back with gardening gloves in my pocket prepared to pull out any invasives in my path.  Oh, yes and at the same time trying not to trip while walking and looking up  to spot birds per the bird walk leader.   Being in Lincoln Park is going to be a whole new adventure.