Wordless Wednesday - Woodland Beauties

From my wildflower walk with 5 year old Tanka today.

Photos by Aisling, April 30, 2008 1) Erythronium Americanum - "Trout Lily" 2) Dicentra Cucullaria -"Dutchman's Breeches" a wild relative of Bleeding Heart

Wildflowers in Winter

I stopped by for a weekly visit to a Gracious Hospitality and noticed a link to her friend Elizabeth Joy's blog. Elizabeth Joy is having a "Wildflowers in Winter" weekly event through mid-march. With the pale palette of winter dominating the January landscape, I find myself hungry for light and color. I have decided to participate (as much as possible) in the weekly themes. The idea through January 22, 2008 is for participants to post a favorite wildflower photo from their files. Much more information is available at Elizabeth Joy's blog, Wildflower Morning.

I don't have only one favorite wildflower photo, but this one is sweet and sunshiny.

photo by Aisling, June 20, 2007 1) Sulfur (or Rough-Fruited) Cinquefoil

Meet Joe Pye

I promised my friend Nan a few photos of the Joe Pye Weed growing wild on our property. The plant that I photographed is growing wild in my practically-dry creek bed, and is taller than I am (not hard; I'm not quite 5'2".) I understand that this plant is a host plant and food source to many types of butterflies, and am always glad for its proximity to my butterfly garden (planted along the creek bank.) I've also read that this wildflower was once used by Native Americans as a medicinal plant, for a variety of purposes. The white variety at the bottom, which is Boneset, was once classified in the same plant family, but some recent reading reveals that they are now classified separately. I think they look like cousins, and they grow happily together all over the wild edges of my property.

photos by Aisling, July 31, 2007, 1) close-up of Joy Pye Weed 2) Joe Pye Weed from a few feet away 3) Boneset growing near the Joe Pye Weed