From a distance this resembles Dame’s Rocket and Phlox, but the toothed edges of the petals give it away. This name first recorded in a 1596 garden catalog! (They must mean a different sort of catalog.) Edible flowers. Native to southern Europe and parts of Asia.
Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus)
In a swampy area. I have an earlier post for a bigger, taller variety of rue. This one is small and low growing. Apparently rare in this region. (I got lost on this hike too! and saw a deer bound by that the dogs didn’t see, but when we got near where it passed, they smelled it and were in the grips of their DNA, desperate to chase!)
Mountain Meadow Rue, Cliff Meadow Rue, Lady Rue (Thalictrum clavatum)
Now, a more modest little flower, growing with the fleabane and pokeweed in our wood pile. Rose family. Native.
White Avens (Geum canadense)
This is growing right by the pond with the water lilies. I couldn’t get very close because it was swampy—it was kind of a jungle back there. Plus I got lost for awhile, which made it even more of an adventure! Fragrant. Heath family. Native.
Swamp Azalea, Swamp-honeysuckle, Clammy Azalea (Rhododendron viscosum)
I have not passed by any of these while they’re open, while I had a camera, so this will have to do. (They are open in the morning, and closed in the afternoon.) This is back farther in the woods at Wilson. They like clear water as deep as 8 feet, and they root into the mucky bottom, and send up stems which will each bear one flower. A food source for turtles, muskrats, beavers and deer. Native.
Fragrant Water Lily (Nymphaeaceae odorata) (all those vowels are not typos.)
Then when you come out of the bright meadow into the shady woodlands, there is this delicate little plant. Has a licorice scent when crushed. Parsley family. Native.
Sweet Cicely, Sweet Jarvil (Osmorhiza claytoni)
Bonus picture: Here are the hound dogs waiting patiently while I took all these pictures.
Okay, this will be the last one from the meadow. I have this in my garden and now I know why it survives my neglect so well — because it’s a native that doesn’t need any help. Milkweed family. Native to eastern North America.
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
This is flowering in the field of wonders (at Wilson), but I took this at Centennial and it’s in better focus. Mint family. Native.
Purple Bergamot (Monarda media)
With a bud like a raspberry and purple bracts. Mint family. Bergamot is native, but I think this may be a garden-escapee cultivated variety.
Bergamot, Beebalm, Oswego Tea (Monarda didyma “Raspberry Wine”)
This meadow has several varieties of Monarda or Bergamot. The lilac and pink varieties are called Wild Bergamot. Fragrant. Considered a medicinal plant by many native tribes, made into a tea. Also made into hair pomade. A natural source for the antiseptic thymol, which is used in modern mouthwash. Mint family. Native. (with Eastern Black Swallowtail)
Wild Bergamot, Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa)