It’s hard to believe that it is iris time already, but here they are. This is a native blue flag (Iris versicolor) that I found growing near a pond. Such beauty, and all to convince the bees that this, more than any other, is the flower that they should visit.
If, when you look at a bunchberry plant (Cornus canadensis) it reminds you of something else, that’s because it is in the dogwood family. Like a dogwood blossom its large white bracts surround smaller flowers. Even the 2 larger and 4 smaller leaves look like a dogwood. In fact, an old name for the plant is creeping dogwood. They like moist, shady woods.
A closer look at tiny bunchberry flowers. If pollinated each flower will become a bright red, single seeded drupe, and the plant will then have the bunch of “berries” that give it its common name.
Rhodora (Rhododendron canadense,) is a small, native rhododendron that loves swampy places. It is native to the northeastern U.S. and Canada and both its western and southern limits are reached in Pennsylvania. The flowers appear before the leaves, but only for a short time in spring. By mid-June they will have all vanished. On May 17, 1854 Henry David Thoreau wrote “The splendid Rhodora now sets the swamps on fire with its masses of rich color,” and that is exactly what this beautiful little plant does.
Cow vetch (Vicia cracca) is a native of Europe and Asia that loves it here and has spread far and wide. According to the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States the vining plant is present in every U.S. state. Cow vetch can have a taproot nearly a foot long and drops large numbers of seeds, so it is hard to eradicate. It is very similar to hairy vetch, but that plant has hairy stems. I like its color and it’s nice to see it sprinkled here and there among the tall grasses.
I got married in June and we couldn’t afford flowers from a florist so we picked ox-eye daisy blossoms (Leucanthemum vulgare.) That’s when I discovered that they look much better along a roadside than they do in a vase. This one had a visitor.
Each strap shaped, yellow “petal” on a yellow hawkweed flower head (Hieracium caespitosum) is actually a single, complete flower. The buds, stem, and leaves of the plant are all very hairy and the rosette of oval leaves at the base of the stem often turn deep purple in winter. The Ancient Greeks believed that hawks drank the sap of this plant to keep their eyesight sharp and so they named it hierax, which means hawk.
I’ve seen foxglove flowers (Digitalis) in the past which, even though they tried very hard to be white, were more off white or pale yellow, but those pictured were definitely white. Though eye catching, all parts of this plant are toxic and eating even a small amount can be fatal.
Though it is said that the spots on a foxglove flower are elfin finger prints, they are actually a kind of guide or “landing strip” for bees. In many foxglove blossoms the spots are fluorescent at night under black light and, since bees see in ultraviolet light, viewing the flowers under black light gives us an idea of what bees must see.
I love smelling the flowers of the black locust tree (Robinia pseudoacacia.) I think of them as a kind of poor man’s wisteria because their fragrance seems very similar to me. The flowers might also look familiar to vegetable gardeners because the black locust is in the pea family (Fabaceae.) One way to identify the tree is by the pair of short spines at the base of each leaf. Like many other legumes its leaflets fold together at night and when it rains.
These flowers also belong to the black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia, ) but I believe that this tree is a cultivar called “purple robe” that has escaped cultivation. I find it in the woods occasionally and have been a little confused about its origin. It lacks the short spines at the base of its leaves and instead has bristly hairs on its stems. It always seems to be growing in small colonies when I see it and I’m hoping that a reader might know more about it. The flowers are very fragrant and bees really love this tree. Every time I find one in bloom it is absolutely covered with bees, which makes getting photos a challenge.
Note: Josh from the Josh’s Journal blog has identified this plant as bristly locust (Robinia hispida,) which is a native, shrubby locust. Thanks to Josh for putting several years of wondering about this plant to rest. This is a great illustration of how long it can take to correctly identify plants in rare cases.
I recently found the biggest colony of native blue toadflax plants (Nuttallanthus canadensis) that I’ve ever seen growing alongside a road. This plant seems to like sunny and dry, sandy waste areas because that’s where I always find it growing. It’s always worth getting down on my hands and knees to admire its tiny but beautiful blue / purple flowers.
Bowman’s root (Gillenia trifoliata) has many other common names, such as Indian physic or American ipecac, both of which tell me that I don’t want to be eating any of it. Native Americans dried the root and used it as an emetic and laxative so some of its common names make sense, but I’ve never been able to find out where the name bowman’s root originated. This two foot tall native plant makes an excellent addition to a partially shaded perennial border.
An unusual feature of bowman’s root is how the five petals on the beautiful white, star shaped flowers are never quite symmetrical.
Another common name for this plant is fawn’s breath and, though I don’t know its origin, these flowers sway in the gentlest hint of a breeze and I can imagine someone thinking that it didn’t take more than the breath of a fawn to get them dancing.
Pink lady’s slippers (Cypripedium acaule) are one of the most beautiful things you’ll see in the woods of New Hampshire in the spring. Their blooming period has nearly ended for this year, so I thought I’d show one more before next spring. This is the darkest colored one that I saw this year.
I often try to take a photo of the darkest flower in a group and then compare them at the end of the blooming period. I do this with many different kinds of flowers and the differences are sometimes quite surprising.
In every man’s heart there is a secret nerve that answers to the vibrations of beauty. – Christopher Morley
Thanks for stopping in.
I think I prefer the oxeye daisies growing wild to in a vase too. You’ve really got a lot of colour there now.
We’ve had a rainy week so things are growing like mad right now, including the lawn I haven’t been able to mow.
I leave the lawn to Commando 🙂
Reblogged this on Dawn of Divine Rays.
Thank you Agnes! Have a great weekend!
You’re very welcome Allen. Wishing you and yours, a very blessed and joyful weekend. Namaste.
Those are some gorgeous flowers you’ve photographed. I can’t believe the diversity of flowering trees and shrubs you have. How is it that the deer haven’t eaten all the herbaceous perennials there?
I think that the deer just have such an abundance of food here that they can’t eat it all. With 4.8 million miles of forest, they have a big plate.
Quite a variety of “bloomers.” We’re in between spring and summer.
Thanks! We’re also transitioning, but slowly. I’m in no hurry to see black eyed Susans!
Like the fawn’s breath nickname for the bowmans root an aid to remembering. I also enjoyed the petals sticking out of the buds.
Thanks Grampy! I like that name too. It stimulates the imagination. I don’t think I’ve seen another plants that have the petals and buds arranged like that. It’s unusual.
Terrific photos as always! I fell in love with the Rhodora… wish we had that here… and the pink Lady’s Slipper is gorgeous!
Thanks Montucky. One unusual thing about the rhodora is how it often grows in standing water along the edge of swamps. It doesn’t seem to have a very large range.
The pink lady’s slippers are beautiful. We also have yellow ones but I’ve never found them in this area.
Fabulous and amazing! Thanks
Thank you Linda.
Beautiful pictures!! I don’t think I have ever seen bunchberry flowers, they are very pretty. Love the pink lady’s slipper, we have these but there are not many around anymore like there were 5 or 10 years ago. 🙂
Thank you Michael. I think Virginia is the southernmost point of bunchberry’s natural range but you can buy them at nursery centers now.
I wonder why your pink lady’s slippers are disappearing. That’s too bad. I hope they make a comeback.
I wish I knew why the lady slippers were disappearing too. I talked to Clemson University about it but they did not have any information to share. Just for calling they sent me 50 Canadian hemlock slips to plant around the mountain.
That sounds like a good deal!
I like plants like the bunchberry plant which have worlds within worlds.
Me too. And that’s a great way to describe them.
Once again it will sound like I’m repeating myself, but great post! Maybe it’s my imagination, but I think that I’m beginning to see regional differences in the flowers in your photos, and the flowers of the same species here in Michigan.
Thanks Jerry. I don’t think you’re imagining seeing regional differences. That’s to be expected among many species. Western trout lilies for instance, look quite different than eastern ones.
The Bowman’s root is really beautiful. I really wish I could grow bunchberry here, but the soil is far too alkaline.
That bowman’s root really is a beautiful plant and very under-used in gardens. Since it’s a native it’s virtually maintenance free, too.
I envy your alkaline soil. Maybe you can’t grow bunchberry but just think of all that you can grow. Many orchids, for instance, love alkaline soil.
Have you ever eaten Black Locust blossoms? I find them quite tasty.
I wonder if your purple flowered “Black Locust” is actually Bristly Locust Robinia hispida)?
No, I’ve never eaten black locust blossoms, but I sure do love their scent.
I’m fairly sure you’re right about the bristly locust from what I read quickly just now. Thank you for that-these things have had me scratching my head for years now. I’m really surprised that after all of the research I did on these I didn’t once see a mention of bristly locust! I’ll update the post when I have a little more free time. Thanks again, Josh.
Your comment about the ox-eye daisy made me laugh. Had they stayed by the side of the road, the wedding wouldn’t have happened? I love these and always gather the huge blossoms from my wild garden. They last well when cut and remind me of June’s promise all summer long…
Lovely shots. Don’t be afraid of the bees when shooting, chances are if they are honey bees, they are too busy to bother you.
Thanks Martha. I’m sure I would have still gotten married without the daisies, but they wilted quickly after they were cut and looked kind of sad. Shasta daisies would have been a much better choice but beggars can’t be choosers.
Maybe you should plant some purple robe black locusts. Your bees would be very happy if you did!
A wonderful series of early summer beauty! I love the black locust flowers. I have tried and tried to get the crown vetch out of my gardens, with minimal results. While I agree it is pretty, it would be better if it would grow on a trellis instead of my roses.
I know what you mean Laura. I too have pulled a lot of vetch in my time as a gardener. Once you’ve got it, you’ve got it!
WOW! What beauty….almost makes me keen to endure a winter again. There is nothing so lovely as northern spring!
That white digitalis is spectacular, but the strangest thing? Mine hasn’t bloomed yet down here! The flower buds are only in the very earliest stages.
Maybe you could skip winter and just visit in spring! That is odd that your foxgloves aren’t blooming yet. I wonder why?
I loved your quote and it was a delight to scroll through your wonderfully observed pictures and read all about them.
Thank you Susan. We have an abundance of flowers blooming here right now, so many that it’s hard to keep up with them.