WiseAcre Gardens

This European introduction has become naturalized in the northeastern US and prefers moist fields and meadows. The bright pink – purple (sometimes white) flowers are easily spotted while driving around the St. Lawrence River valley and these caught my eye on the Potsdam – Morley Road.

Lychnis flos-cuculi

Ragged Robins get their name from the flower’s appearance. Each of the 5 petals are deeply cut into 4 parts giving the flower a ragged look. The plant is not much more than a slim stem – 1 to 3 foot high with opposite, lance shaped leaves that grow smaller as they go up the stem.

Ragged Robins are a member of the Pink Family (Caryophyllaceae). The species name – flos-cuculi – means cuckoo flower.

I spotted more than the Ragged Robins on the Potsdam – Morley Road.

This is what a Fox Kit looks like when fully assembled.

OK, that was groan worthy.

I still can’t imagine how Garter Snakes got their name.
How many women do you know that use them to hold up their stockings?

This wildflower looks like Phlox but it’s easy to tell them apart. Start pulling Dame’s Rocket flower petals with ‘She Loves Me’ and you’ll find ‘She Loves Me Not’ when you get to the last one. Your garden phlox will always love you because it’s odd. Dame’s Rocket has 4 flower petals compared to the 5 of Phlox.

Hesperis matronalis

click image for a larger size (1024 x 768) suitable to use as descktop wallpaper

Dame’s Rocket is an invasive alien wildflower that has escaped from garden settings. No spaceships where involved in their dispersal, it is native to Europe and was brought over to the new world to be used as an ornamental plant. Their aggressive nature is actually a family trait. When it goes to seed Dane’s Rocket gives away it’s family identity. The long seed pods mark it as a member of the mustard family. It is a prolific self seeder and can quickly form dense stands that crowd out native plants.

Flower colors range from deep purple, lavender, pink and white. Dame’s Rocket is a fairly common sight along roadsides in St. Lawrence County, NY. These were spotted along the Black Lake Road in the Town of Morristown.

I caution anyone who wants to stop along Black Lake to get a close look, take photos or collect seed to watch where they go. Poison Ivy hides in the unmowed areas along the road.

At one time Dame’s Rocket seeds were included in ‘wildflower’ mixes. Since Dames Rocket is considered a noxious weed by many states I certainly hope they’re no longer added to the mix.

Dicentra canadensis

is starting to bloom in the woods around Canton, NY. This little native wildflower is related to the larger garden varieties of Bleeding Hearts.

(Due to some bug not allowing comments – I have deleted and re-posted this)

The flowers resemble Decentra spectabillis ‘Alba’ with its white blooms but the similarity ends there. It differs being much smaller, having very finely cut leaves and an unusual root. The leaves though are almost impossible to tell apart from Dutchman’s Breeches.

Squirrel Corn gets its name from the root ‘kernels’ that resemble grains of corn. The tubers are about the size and color of a kernel of corn. This is a common wildflower in northern NY and I see it all over my area. Unfortunately Squirrel Corn is threatened in Maine, New Hampshire and Connecticut. In New Jersey it is endangered. A huge patch of Squirrel Corn can be seen along the Russel Turnpike in St. Lawrence County. Contrary to the name the turnpike is a dirt road going through some state forest land in the Town of Parishville.

I also found some Bleeding Hearts in bloom at a local nursery. I almost took 3 of each but in the end managed to resist temptation. Bringing them home meant work to prepare a spot for them and I’ve been trying to avoid allergic reactions as much as possible this spring. But I know sooner or later I’ll have to work.

Bleeding Heart – Dicentra spectabilis

Bumble Love Embrace

White Bleeding Heart – Dicentra spectabilis ‘Alba’

Liberal White Flag?

I did bring home a few kernels of corm to plant in my shade garden. They should do well and in fact I’m thinking of going back and bringing home some whole plants before they bloom. The only problem is finding a spot easy to dig so as not to disturb them too much. The woods are rich and moist but very rocky and tree root ‘infested’.