Pipsissewa and the Blue Balloon Flower

We've been busy helping our friends Ron & Bertie get ready for their auction tomorrow, so I'm keeping today's post short and sweet.  Tomorrow I'll tell you all about my very first experience at an auction!  On our way over to their place to load the trailer to bring to the auction site, I came across my first Pipsissewa (a native plant to the area) of the year...I really like these flowers for some reason, there's something about how small and inconspicuous they are, yet quite pleasant to look at, and it's said they have medicinal value...

Ron & Bertie have these Blue Balloon Flowers growing in their yard, I've never seen them before!  They begin with this balloon looking bloom...

 ...and open into this lovely flower...

 ...with a delicate center which opens the white section to create the stamen as the day progresses.  

I don't believe this is a native to the area, but it's a fascinating bloom!

Thanks for reading my blog, you are the best f/f/r/s/f's, see you tomorrow,
Lise