Giant Clocks!

Tragopogon dubius, aka Yellow Salsify  among several other names. These clocks can get as big as 4" in diameter.  More info here. 

Today I went to the Lake Erie beach with Susan L.  We planted our chairs on the boardwalk at the edge of the sand between Wildwood and Euclid Beach Parks on the Villa Angela Beach (FMI).  We were told the water was very cold and saw only one boy swimming, and just a few folks sunning on the sand.  Swimming had been prohibited recently due to high bacteria levels.  Between the constant breeze and sound of the waves on the rocks and shore, I was in heaven.  The temperature was mid-seventies.  Behind us was a dune where I found these clocks and bunches of blooming milkweed that delightfully scented the air.