Wildflowers for Beauty - 2nd in a Series
This week’s article on spring flowers will highlight some of the beauty of spring flowers. Many plants derive their name from the flower that caught a colonial’s eye and, henceforth, the common name of the plant became identified by the flower.
Spring beauty” is a prime example of this connection of flower to plant’s name. Spring beauty flowers are considered a harbinger of spring because they are one of the first flowers to bloom after winter. These flowers can bloom as early as late March or early April. Spring beauties are often found in groups in fields, borders of woods, and front lawns. ‘Fragile’ is a word that adds to the beauty of the plant. The one-half inch wide flowers are on a thin stalk, and the pale pink streaks in the white flower add to the daintiness of the flower.
Jack-in-the-pulpits are another beautiful flower of May because of its unique flowers. Found in shaded, woody areas, the Jack-in-the-pulpit resembles a man speaking from a pulpit. The pulpit itself is hard to find because the three, wide leaves hide the “Jack”. The flowers or “Jack” is a small inflorescence (arrangement of flowers on a vertical axis) of tiny flowers. These flowers produce a club-shaped mass of red berries, often called Indian Turnip, in late summer.
Gaywings, or fringed polygala, is a low growing, bright white and pink/purple orchid blooming in late May to early June in Pennsylvania. Often found in disturbed soils, such as roadbanks, the beautiful flowers add to roadside beauty. The flowers appear to be trying to fly, hence the name gay wings.
It doesn’t make any difference whether you live in the Borough or Township, now is the time to really look at the wildflowers blooming in your area. The flowers of spring are most likely small, dainty, and better hidden than the showy flowers of late summer, but their beauty is no less a prize. Take your children out to enjoy wildflowers on a wildflower walk.
The US Forest Service is providing a series of articles is recognition of National Wildflower Month.
Spring beauty” is a prime example of this connection of flower to plant’s name. Spring beauty flowers are considered a harbinger of spring because they are one of the first flowers to bloom after winter. These flowers can bloom as early as late March or early April. Spring beauties are often found in groups in fields, borders of woods, and front lawns. ‘Fragile’ is a word that adds to the beauty of the plant. The one-half inch wide flowers are on a thin stalk, and the pale pink streaks in the white flower add to the daintiness of the flower.
Jack-in-the-pulpits are another beautiful flower of May because of its unique flowers. Found in shaded, woody areas, the Jack-in-the-pulpit resembles a man speaking from a pulpit. The pulpit itself is hard to find because the three, wide leaves hide the “Jack”. The flowers or “Jack” is a small inflorescence (arrangement of flowers on a vertical axis) of tiny flowers. These flowers produce a club-shaped mass of red berries, often called Indian Turnip, in late summer.
Gaywings, or fringed polygala, is a low growing, bright white and pink/purple orchid blooming in late May to early June in Pennsylvania. Often found in disturbed soils, such as roadbanks, the beautiful flowers add to roadside beauty. The flowers appear to be trying to fly, hence the name gay wings.
It doesn’t make any difference whether you live in the Borough or Township, now is the time to really look at the wildflowers blooming in your area. The flowers of spring are most likely small, dainty, and better hidden than the showy flowers of late summer, but their beauty is no less a prize. Take your children out to enjoy wildflowers on a wildflower walk.
The US Forest Service is providing a series of articles is recognition of National Wildflower Month.
.jpg)
Comments