White-pored Chicken of the Woods

A.F. Irit was wondering what these feel like so we tried it. I expected it would feel velvety, dry, and hard. But actually it was not velvety dry, it was more like velvety damp, cold and kind of rubbery, like feeling a diving wet suit. Reputedly edible and absolutely choice if cooked (and very upsetting if eaten raw)! (No thanks!)

White-pored Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus cincinnatus)

Yellow Coral Fungus

With new wildflowers scarce, I do find other things catch my eye, like these small yellow fingers of fungus. I hope this is the correct identification.

Yellow Coral Fungus (Clavaria amoena)

Silver-Rod

The only non-golden goldenrod! White flowers, and look how they grow in the axils all the way up. Blooms through October. Another gift from the meadow of wonder, while most of the flowers there are wilting down and going to seed. Aster family. Native.

Silver-Rod (Solidago bicolor)

Motherwort

One blooming at Charles River Peninsula, and one just getting started at Wilson. Furry little things. Was used by midwives to prevent uterine infection and for other pregnancy-related issues; that’s how it came to be called Motherwort. Mint family. Originally from Central Asia but widely distributed due to its medicinal uses.

Motherwort, Lion’s Ear, Lion’s Tail (Leonurus cardiaca)

Swamp Azalea

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)

Fragrant Water Lily

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.)

Sweet Cicely

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.

Butterfly Weed

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)

Purple Bergamot

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)

Oswego Tea

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”)