We’ve had August heat in May and that has coaxed many of our wildflowers into bloom, and some earlier than usual. Our humble little native blue toadflax (Nuttallanthus canadensis) has just come into bloom. This plant seems to like sunny, dry, sandy waste areas or roadsides 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.
Our native blue flag irises (Iris versicolor) have appeared, so it must be June. Actually, they were early this year and bloomed the last week of May. The name flag is from the Middle English flagge, which means rush or reed and which I assume applies to the cattail like leaves. Though Native Americans used this plant medicinally its roots are considered dangerously toxic and people who dig cattail roots to eat have to be very careful that there are no irises growing among them. Natives showed early settlers how to use small amounts of dried root safely as a cathartic and diuretic.
Here’s an that iris has been in my family longer than I have. Before I was born my mother planted a few in the yard so I’ve known it quite literally my entire life, and now it grows in my own yard. Its name is Loreley, and it’s an old fashioned variety introduced in 1909. It’s one of the toughest irises I know of; truly a “plant it and forget it” perennial. It was bred in Germany, and the name Loreley (Lorelei) refers to the sirens who would perch on cliffs along the Rhine and entice sailors to their doom with their enchanting song, much like the sirens who lured Ulysses and his crew in the Odyssey.
Is it any wonder that Loreley is still grown 107 years after her introduction?
Bunchberry plants (Cornus canadensis) grow right up into the V made by the two trunks of this oak tree near my house but the heat made them bloom early this year and I missed seeing all but two or three. Bunchberry is often found growing on and through tree trunks, stumps, and fallen logs but exactly why isn’t fully understood. It’s thought that it must get nutrients from the decaying wood, and because of its association with wood it’s a very difficult plant to establish in a garden. Native plants that are dug up will soon die off unless the natural growing conditions can be accurately reproduced, so it’s best to just admire it and let it be.
Bunchberry is also called creeping dogwood and bunchberry dogwood. The large (relatively) white bracts surround the actual flowers, which are greenish and very small. The entire flower cluster with bracts and all is often no bigger than an inch and a half across. Later on the flowers will become a bunch of bright red berries which give it its common name. Native Americans used the berries as food and made a tea from the ground root to treat colic in infants. The Cree tribe called the berry “kawiskowimin,” meaning “itchy chin berry” because rubbing the berries against your skin can cause a reaction that will make you itch.
Here’s a dogwood blossom to compare to the bunchberry we saw previously. It has the same 4 larger white bracts with small greenish flowers in the center. Though you can’t see them in this photo even the leaves show the same veining.
Our native azaleas continue to bloom. The beautiful example in this photo grows in a shaded part of the forest and is called early azalea (Rhododendron prinophyllum,) even though the Rhodora (Rhododendron canadense) is earlier. It’s also called roseshell azalea and I usually find them by their fragrance, which is a bit spicy and a bit sweet.
The flowers of the early azalea aren’t as showy as some other azaleas but I wish you could smell their heavenly scent. Another common name, wooly azalea, comes from the many hairs on the outside of the flowers. It is these hairs that emit the fragrance, which is said to induce creative imagination.
Last year the highway department replaced a bridge over the Ashuelot River and widened the road leading to and from it. They put what I thought was grass seed down on the roadsides once the bridge was finished, but this year there are cornflower blue lupines (Lupinus) growing all along the sides of the road. Were there lupine seeds mixed into the grass seed or have the lupines been there all along? These are questions I can’t answer but it doesn’t matter; I’m happy to see them no matter how they got there.
To me the ox eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) says that June has come but this year the warmth of May has brought them on a little early. This is a much loved flower so it is easy to forget that it was originally introduced from Europe as an ornamental in the 1800s. It quickly escaped cultivation and has now spread to each of the lower 48 states and most of Canada. Since cattle won’t eat it, it can spread at will through pastures and that means that it is not well loved by ranchers. A vigorous daisy can produce 26,000 seeds per plant and tests have shown that 82% of the buried seeds remained viable after six years underground. I like its spiraled center.
The round white flower heads of wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis) hide beneath its leaves and quite often you can’t see them from above. Compared to the ping pong ball size flower heads the leaves are huge and act like an umbrella, which might keep rain from washing away their pollen.
Each sarsaparilla flower is very small but as a group they’re easy to see. Dark purple berries will replace the flowers if pollination is successful, and it’s usually very successful. This is one of the most common wildflowers I know of and I see them virtually everywhere I go, including in my own yard. Every now and then you’ll find a plant with flowers but no leaves over them. I don’t know if these leafless plants are a natural hybrid or how the plant benefits from having fewer leaves. Fewer leaves mean less photosynthesizing and that means less food for the plant.
Seeing the light of creation shining from a red clover blossom (Trifolium pretense) is something you don’t ever forget, and I look forward to seeing them every spring. But light isn’t all that flowers radiate; scientists have found that they also generate weak electrical fields which insects like bumblebees can sense through the hairs on their bodies. The electric field bends their tiny hairs and that generates nerve signals which the bees use to tell the difference between flowers.
It’s easy to see that blue bead lilies (Clintonia borealis) are in the lily family; they look just like small Canada lilies. I like seeing both the flowers and the blue berries that follow them. It’s been described as porcelain blue but it’s hard to put a name to it. I call it electric blue and I really can’t think of another blue to compare it to, but it’s beautiful.
At a glance it might be easy to confuse the large oval leaves of blue bead lilies with those of lady’s slippers, but they don’t have the pleats that lady’s slippers have, and of course once the flowers appear there is no doubt. The two plants often grow side by side and bloom at the same time. It can take more than 12 years for blue bead lily plants to produce flowers from seed.
Pink lady’s slippers (Cypripedium acaule) have come into bloom quickly and I think I’m seeing more of them than I ever have. I’m so glad that this native orchid is making a comeback after being collected nearly into oblivion by people who didn’t know any better. The plant interacts with a Rhizoctonia fungus in the soil and this fungus must be present for it to reproduce. If plants are dug up and placed in private gardens they will eventually die out if the fungus isn’t present so please, look at them, take a couple of photos, and let them be.
For those who haven’t seen one, a pink lady’s slipper blossom is essentially a pouch called a labellum, which is a modified petal. The pouch has a slit down the middle which can be seen in this photo. Veins on the pouch attract bumblebees, which enter the flower through the slit and then find that to get out they have to leave by one of two openings at the top of the pouch (not seen here) that have pollen masses above them. When they leave they are dusted with pollen and will hopefully carry it to another flower. It takes pink lady’s slippers five years or more from seed to bloom, but they can live for twenty years or more.
That pleasure which is at once the most pure, the most elevating and the most intense, is derived, I maintain, from the contemplation of the beautiful. ~Edgar Allan Poe
Thanks for stopping in.
Wouldn’t it be great if the road builders and road meanders sprinkled wild flowe seed as they worked. How lovely all the verges would be.
Yes, I agree. Or they could just start mowing them later. They mow so early here now that chicory doesn’t even have a chance to bloom. I never see it anymore.
Flowers in all there splendour and variety. Thank you for sharing your discoveries.
You’re welcome Ben. Thank you!
You wouldn’t believe the amount of bunch berry plants I saw up north. I’ve never seen so many! The lady slippers were in abundance as well. I was lucky enough this year to see several yellow ones too. Someone told me the yellow ones bloom where there is more limestone in the soil.
I wonder why bunchberry does so well up there. They must get something they like.
I’ve always wanted to see the yellow lady’s slippers. I think that’s probably true about the limestone, which would explain why we never see them in this area.
The Loreley iris is beautiful, I love the fact it had grown before you and now you are growing it too. Thank you for showing us your beautiful flowers. The lily and the lady’s slipper orchid are gorgeous.
You’re welcome, and thank you. That iris is part of home for me!
How beautiful they all are, though the lady’s slippers are the prettiest of all!!
Thanks Montucky! I agree with you on the lady’s slippers. Thankfully people have been educated and don’t try to dig them up anymore, so they’re becoming more common each year. That’s a good thing!
OK first the early azalea, I have always called the June Pinks and the scent is up there with lilacs for flooding memories of the season. Lady Slippers are my particular pride as they love the forest around my home. The small patches have been spectacular this year as well as the number I have found along the sides of the road. This was a great post for showing the world why we wait through the gray, season-of-sticks for Spring!
Thanks Martha.
I’ve heard the name June pinks but since the azalea usually blooms in May I use roseshell or early azalea. It’s fragrance is heavenly no matter what you call it.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen as many lady’s slippers as I’m seeing this year, and that goes for dragonflies too!
A very nice selection of spring/summer flowers. I usually see the bunch berries after they flower so I miss the blooms.
Thanks! You’ve reminded me to look for some berries.
Beautiful flowers, especially the Irises and the Lady’s Slippers.
I agree!
Such a beautiful collection of flowers. I like the bunchberry and dogwood shots – I often see American dogwood shrubs in large gardens I visit and love the way the bracts become luminous in half-light. I was fascinated by the news that clover produces a mild electrical field; I had never noticed the spiralled centre of an ox-eye daisy before; I too love your mother’s iris in your yard (iris are a favourite flower of mine); and those blue toadflax flowers! – so cute – just like rabbit heads!
Thank you Clare. I’ve wondered if you grew our native dogwoods there. They’re beautiful in the spring. Some are so covered in blossoms that you wouldn’t think one more would fit.
I was also fascinated by the electric field produced by flowers, but not really surprised. We still have a lot to learn about nature.
I’ve always liked iris. They’re so different than any other flower.
I never saw rabbit heads in toadflax until you mentioned it, but you’re right!
I’m glad you could see the rabbit heads – after I sent the comment I had that sinking feeling thinking that I might be the only one who saw them!
The ears did it for me.
😀
These are some of my favourite flowers, Allen – wildflowers and not. Thank you. And that iris is a stunner. Loreley is a beautiful inheritance.
Thank you Cynthia. If only it could be spring year round!
There seem to be a few places that sell the Loreley online (under Loreley Bearded). One is Hummingbird Gardens. I don’t know anything about the business, but the Loreley is in their catalog. It’s a beautiful Iris.
I love the roadside Lupines and hope they were intentionally planted by the highway department.
Thank you for that. I wasn’t able to find anyone who sold them. I hope Lavinia and Mr. Tootlepedal see your comment. I’ve dragged that iris from place to place my whole life, mostly because it reminded me of home, but yes it is beautiful.
I can’t picture our highway department planting anything but I’m with you; I hope they purposely planted the lupines. They are even more beautiful when they’re mass planted.
I have bookmarked the page for Hummingbird Gardens, and will also check with our main garden plant vendor at Market on Wednesday.
You’ve outdone yourself with both the flowers and information that you’re so good at finding! I didn’t know that plants generated an electrical field, or that insects could make use of that. It’s an amazing world that we live in, and that’s brought home in every one of your posts.
I’ve met a few gardeners that keep and specialize in the heirloom species of flowers, and it’s often iris that are one of the flowers that they continue to breed even though there are so many newer varieties. I think that keeping the older varieties going is a great thing to do, they bring back so many memories and provide a link to the generations gone by.
The downside to that has been the weather this year, with the temperature changes. I didn’t make it out for a walk for three days due to work, and many flowers had bloomed and died in just those three days because of the heat.
Thanks Jerry! I have to say that I wasn’t too surprised to read about flowers having electric fields that entice insects. It is amazing and just drives home the point that there’s much that we don’t know about nature. Even though I’ve spent my life outdoors and in the woods what strikes me the most is how little I really know!
Yes, heirloom plants are making a big comeback especially in flowers, apples and tomatoes, to name a few. People are too quick to give up on the old to embrace the new, forgetting that the old were grown for good reason. That reason was often disease resistance, which the newer varieties don’t seem to have as much of. In short, the old plants were a lot tougher.
Yes, that early heat really messed up the timing of a lot of plants. Our entire peach crop was destroyed because the trees bloomed too early and then it got cold. Nature always has a way of sorting things out but if you happen to be a nature photographer it gets confusing! Many of our June plants bloomed in May!
The Loreley Iris is wonderful. It is no surprise to find it still going strong. I wonder if it is in our catalogues.
If it is you might let Lavinia know. I couldn’t find it online and I’m afraid that it’s one of those plants that gets passed from gardener to gardener, but I could be wrong.
I shall consult Mrs T.
That is fascinating, the clover and electric fields. I looked up the subject and found some interesting articles on this at Phys.Org. I was aware of much earlier work done on the electric fields of eggs and embryos of the seaweed known as bladderwrack. That bumblebees use these electric fields on flowers is a new one to me. They tend to be the major pollinators seen in our blueberry patch. I have read they are considered the superior pollinators of blueberries as they sonicate (buzz pollinate) the blooms.
The Lorelei irises I will keep an eye out for here. We have a few iris growers that come to market, and I will inquire. This sounds like a good variety our climate.
Always enjoy these informative posts, seeing flowers I have not encountered again since my days back east. The photos are beautiful.
Thank you Lavinia. I thought the electric fields of flowers was interesting as well. I just read about it in the science news last night. I’ve never heard of buzz pollinating but it makes sense.
I just looked online and unfortunately couldn’t find the Loreley Iris. I thinks it’s so old that it is just passed from gardener to gardener these days, but a local grower might have divisions from their own garden.
Beautiful!
Thank you!
Reblogged this on Dawn of Divine Rays and commented:
Love these flowers, Allen. Thank you very much for sharing. I love the lupines but I can’t seem to grow them here. Probably too dry and too much clay soil. As usual, the photos are superb. Happy weekend, Allen. Namaste
Thank you Agnes. I think you should probably dig in some compost / peat moss / loam before you plant in sandy or clay soil. These will all hold moisture as well so you wouldn’t have to water as often in dry conditions. Also, lupines have a long taproot like a dandelion, so the planting hole should be dug a little deeper with the clay removed or improved.
Have a great weekend!
Thank you very much, Allen, for the tips and advise. This year, I’ve dug so many holes that my hands are in pain. Too many of my lupines died on me and I’ve just given up hope 0n keeping them alive and happy. I do mix all the soil before putting the plants in. Foxglove seems to do better than the lupines even though I didn’t fuss as much and not much expensive soil needed too. Once again, thanks for the tips, Allen, and if I should decide to plant lupines again… I will follow your advice. Namaste
You’re welcome. That advice was kind of the “one size fits all” type. I don’t really know anything about the climate or soil types in Pennsylvania, but I do know that improving the soil always helps, no matter where you live and it sounds like you’ve been doing plenty of that. I’m not sure what the lupines won’t grow. Maybe it’s too hot there? Too shady? Here they grow in full sun on roadsides which tend to be on the sandy side.
I’d find someone with a yard full of lupines and ask them what their secret is!
lol … thank you, Allen. Pls don’t waste your time to do that. You’re a very busy man. Will probably try sandy soil next time instead of the expensive loamy soil. Probably drainy sandy soil ..because … I’ve not tried that. Thanks for all the help, Allen. I’m just ‘addicted’ to growing more and more flowers and it fazes me why I can’t grow lupines .. probably at times, I’m too lazy to go out in the hot sun to water them if they aren’t hardy enough. It has been too hot for late Spring lately .. so .. the plants are very confused by now. Take care and don’t forget to have fun! Namaste
Yes, sand would help break up the clay if nothing else, and it doesn’t cost much.
I’m all for growing as many flowers as possible. I think we all have at least one plant that won’t grow for us. Mine is beardtongue. I’ve tried everything I know and it just will not grow here.
Yes, it has been a hot spring. I hope we get more rain!
I have a lot of fun just walking through the woods. In fact sometimes I feel that I’m getting more than my share!
lol … I think that I’ve more than one plant that wouldn’t grow .. so.. you’re better off than me. There is one society that’s dedicated to Penstemon (Beard Tongue) – if you decide to try growing it again, pls go to their website here – http://apsdev.org/welcome.html
Thanks! I think I’ve given up on it, but you never know!
A lovely collection of spring blooms – it feels like an explosion out there!
Thank you Eliza. Yes, the spring rush into bloom is on and everywhere I look there’s another photo waiting to happen!
I know the feeling!
What a wonderful selection, especially the irises. I loved your quote, so true.
Thanks very much Susan, I’m glad you enjoyed them.