The Milkweed is just starting to bloom, which makes it seem like I can already see the end of summer, picturing those white-feathered seeds to come. Fragrant blooms. Provides food for many insects. Host plant for caterpillars of monarch butterflies and many moths. The flower nectar was used by native people as a sweetener. Milkweed family. Native to North America.
Common Milkweed, Butterfly flower, Silkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
Have you ever noticed that there is not just one kind of red clover? You can recognize Alsike Clover (above) by the fact that the flower is on a stem without leaves, but Red Clover (below) has the flower always sitting on a doily of leaves. Also, Alsike Clover leaves don’t have the pale markings of Red Clover. Pea family. Native to Europe. Its name is from the Swedish town of Alsike.
Alsike Clover (Trifolium hybridum)
An annual vine. Can be purple, blue, pink or white. Introduced from South America as an ornamental. Seeds and foliage are mildly toxic. Bindweed family.
Common Morning Glory (Ipomoea purpurea)
Smaller flowers than the kind of Dianthus cultivated in gardens, with pale spots on the petals. The name Deptford refers to an area of England where this pink was once common. Annual or biennial. Pink family. Native to Europe.
Deptford Pink (Dianthus armeria)
A lovely rose growing in moist soil on the lakeshore. Extremely fragrant. Native to the eastern U.S. While I took this, Lucy scouted out a big turtle.
Swamp Rose (Rosa palustris Marsh)
The scientific name (Digitalis) means “finger-like” and refers to the way the blossoms fit nicely on one’s fingertip. (What?) The entire plant is toxic, with the leaves of the upper stem being the most potent — can cause death! Also used for various cardiac-related drugs. Native to everywhere but here (Europe, Asia, Africa).
According to the 19th century book English Botany, Or, Coloured Figures of British Plants:
Dr. Prior, whose authority is great in the origin of popular names, says “It seems probably that the name was in the first place, foxes’ glew, or music, in reference to the favourite instrument of an earlier time, a ring of bells hung on an arched support, the tintinnabulum“… we cannot quite agree with Dr. Prior for it seems quite probable that the shape of the flowers suggested the idea of a glove, and that associated with the name of the botanist Fuchs, who first gave it a botanical name, may have been easily corrupted into foxglove. It happens, moreover, the name foxglove is a very ancient one and exists in a list of plants as old as the time of Edward III. The “folks” of our ancestors were the fairies and nothing is more likely than that the pretty coloured bells of the plant would be designated “folksgloves,” afterwards, “foxglove.” In Wales it is declared to be a favourite lurking-place of the fairies, who are said to occasion a snapping sound when children, holding one end of the digitalis bell, suddenly strike the other on the hand to hear the clap of fairy thunder, with which the indignant fairy makes her escape from her injured retreat. In south of Scotland it is called “bloody fingers” more northward, “deadman’s bells” whilst in Wales it is known as “fairy-folks-fingers” or “lambs-tongue-leaves”.
Common Foxglove (Digitalis)
Was introduced to the eastern U.S. in 1866 as rootstock for ornamental roses. Then was widely used as living fences, for erosion control, etc. til it became considered a pest in natural ecosystems. Hm. Designated a noxious weed in several states. The fruits (hips) are eaten by many kinds of birds. Beautiful.
Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)
I always thought this was called Heart’s Ease. I was wrong! This is common around this area: Lady’s Thumb. The foliage is peppery and bitter so small mammals don’t eat it, but waterbirds and songbirds like the seeds. Buckwheat family.
Lady’s Thumb, Redleg (Polygonum persicaria)
I bought this new camera, but when I was walking at Centennial yesterday, I couldn’t figure out how to really get the macro to work. So I got a tutorial from Alert Technophile Aaron and then went back today to pick up what I missed. And here is the first Crownvetch. It’s not a true vetch, it’s a perennial legume. Native to Africa, Asia and Europe. Toxic to horses!
Crown Vetch (Securigera varia)
A single bright pink bloom by the trail.
Wild Pink (Silene caroliniana)