Milkweed and Buttercup

It's sometimes difficult for me to isolate the subject from the background. I've found that the addition of black may help, but it can be a bit tricky because color seems to saturate as it darkens. I mean, that's cool with me and I do like the look, but it does lose some realism. And yet, I argue, that what is left is the essence of the species.

The dairy motif didn't immediately become apparent. Or the fact that these species were well known to me as a child. Could it have been subconscious? Enough pondering; it's on with the ID's!

Here's a Meadow Buttercup, Ranunculus acris. We've all as children done the butter test, right?



And here's a young Milkweed of the genus Asclepias. I won't try for the species at this time--there are something like over 140... Hey, you've broken leaves and stems to watch the milk run out, haven't you?

What I didn't know as a kid is that the milk is poisonous and that monarch butterflies leverage that to protect themselves.