The three-flowered avens is one of those lucky plants known by several common names, including prairie smoke and, yes, old man"s whiskers. The hardy perennial blooms across North American prairies in the springtime, setting off purple-tinged, closed bell-shaped buds that hang downward in clumps of three. After bees go to work pollinating the buds, the fertilized flowers open and turn skyward transforming their pistils into soft swirling tendrils that are said to resemble an old man"s whiskers. Take a good look at our image and decide if that"s what comes to mind for you. As summer marches on, the plants continue their spectacular show as the fuzzy seed heads take on a pink-tinged cast resembling low-lying prairie smoke.
Old man s whiskers growing wild
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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A bite of ancient history
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A glittering diamond in the rough
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The puffin-rabbit connection
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National Park Service anniversary
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St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland
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Keep shining
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Bear cubs roughhouse on Siblings Day
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Common raven
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What’s blooming in New Zealand?
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Zion National Park turns 103
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American bison
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Castle on a hill
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Who created the Easter Bunny?
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Elephant Rock, Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia
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Porto Cathedral, Portugal
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Art abounds at the Palais Garnier
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The Unfinished Obelisk near Aswan, Egypt
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Wanderin Wawayanda
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Take this for a spin...
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Don’t look down
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Presidents Day
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Mountain goats
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Celebrating sea otters
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Best fronds forever
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World Maritime Day
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Satla marshland in Bangladesh
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Join the parade for World Elephant Day
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Ravens
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A ‘Superior’ paddle
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Craig Goch Dam in the Elan Valley of Wales