As I write this the weatherman is telling me that we will see the 20s tonight, so that will be the end of flowering for all but the hardiest plants for this year. Over the last couple of weeks I’ve been watching to see which plants were going to hold on until the very end.
The last thing I expected to see were low-bush blueberries blossoming (Vaccinium angustifolium,) but here they are.
This striped wintergreen (Chimaphila maculata) didn’t have any flowers but I think the leaves are as beautiful as the flowers. They turn a deep purple color as it gets colder. This plant is also called spotted wintergreen but I don’t know why because it isn’t spotted at all. Native Americans used this plant medicinally and as a flavoring. It is still used to flavor some candies today. From what I have seen it is very rare in this area, and might be endangered.
A few asters are still blooming where they were protected from frost. Goldenrod (Solidago) also still blooms were it has been protected by overhanging tree branches. Last year I saw a dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) blooming on December 21st. This one might make it to that date-it looked good and healthy.
Fern leaved bleeding heart (Dicentra) can take a lot of cold and often survives light frosts. This plant had a lot of trouble with the dryness this summer. I found this display of chrysanthemums and asters at the local college. They even had ornamental cabbage and kale tucked in here and there. Red clover (Trifolium pratense) is probably the flower most seen here right now. It can take a lot of cold and will survive heavy frost. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium ) is going into its second blooming period and I‘ve been seeing it regularly. Sweet everlasting (Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium) holds its flowers in tight buds that seem to never open, but I came across this plant with open flowers. What look like petals are actually bracts that open and fall off as the seed ripens. This plant is also called rabbit tobacco and resembles pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea.) Common Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) is another plant that holds its disc flowers with no petals in tight buds, but these had opened slightly. Tansy is a cultivated plant that has escaped into the wild. It is also a very old plant and has been used medicinally for centuries. Tansy is also an excellent natural insect repellent and in colonial times meat was often packed in its leaves.
Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower ~Hans Christian Andersen
Thanks for stopping in.
I still love the red clover…maybe it’s the simpleness of its beauty, but whatever it is, I’m taken with it. Thank you for the brightness of color for my otherwise gray, yet beautiful, day….
You’re welcome. I like seeing red clover too.
Still some beautiful colors there! Kind of sad to lose the flowers for the winter, but for me the anticipation of the spring wildflowers has already begun. We have only a couple small blooms still and they will be gone after the single digit temps this weekend.
I think I know how you feel-I’m already anxious for spring to get here. It’s snowing here now for the first time, so we won’t be seeing any more flowers until then.
Sorry to see them go! I haven’t seen any flowers in weeks.
I guess we have to expect it at this time of year, but that doesn’t mean we have to like it!
I saw a lowbush blueberry on bloom on Sunday. I took several pictures of it, but haven’t had time to post yet. I have NOT seen any goldenrod, dandelion, yarrow, tansy, or asters in bloom lately.
I was actually shocked to see that blueberry blooming. I also saw a partridgeberry but the pictures came out bad so I did’nt include it. I’m still seeing more asters, goldenrod and yarrow than I expect, but they’re all in fairly well protected spots under overhanging branches.
I was so shocked I didn’t believe it was blueberry at all. I figured it must be something else, which is why I took so many photos of it. I’ll have to look for partridge berry blossoms. I have plenty of it on my place.
Plants do crazy and unexpected things sometimes.
That’s an impressive list of bloomers. Our few remaining aren’t that colorful. Enjoyed
Thanks-our few flowers are hard to find at this time of year!