WiseAcre Gardens

Cowslips have been in bloom for nearly a week now in St. Lawrence County, NY. They’re easy to spot, the bright yellow flowers are hard to miss in roadside ditches and low wet spots even while driving along at a great rate of speed. To say they’re everywhere is exaggerating. But not by much. It’s hard to drive any distance without seeing any.

Caltha palustris

The color of the butterfly is off – the yellow is reflected off the flower onto the gray-white wings.

Marsh Marigolds unfortunately are ephemeral. They’ll soon pass like the spring runoff. The areas where they grow will ‘dry out’ but remain moist. Marsh marigolds will tolerate some dry conditions but remember their first name is Marsh. They usually emerge from shallow water or grow on small mounds holding the plant just above the water.

They make a great plant for wet gardens. Who doesn’t need a good shot of fairly early color in the spring? I keep meaning to bring some home for my pond garden but here I am posting instead of digging.

Marsh Marigolds are considered a medicinal plant and both roots and leaves are used. Be warned – all parts of the plant may cause irritation, blistering skin and mucus membranes. It is said that sniffing bruised stems will make you sneeze (I have never tried – see warning). The raw leaves may also induce intoxication. (thinking, thinking – naw I’ll stick to a cold beer after work)

(Image linked to 1024 x 768 size to use as desktop wallpaper)

I’m glad I waited to get a photo because I got a bonus today. Fluttering around was a spring butterfly and while it wouldn’t open it’s wings for me when it landed I did get a good enough look at it to guess it’s a Spring Azure Butterfly.

Spring Azure Ceslastrina ladon

Family: Gossamer-wing Butterflies (Lycaenidae)
Subfamily: Blues (Polyommatinae)
The upper side of the wings were a pale blue. The photo shows the gray-white underside with the faded small black dots and chevrons at the edge.

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I’m waiting with bated breath (Leeks) to see if the Blotanical Butterfly Guy is going to correct my ID

The first wild Bloodroot flowers are beginning to open in the area. Mine still have a little ways to go but on the way to town this colony couldn’t be missed while driving by.

Well maybe they wouldn’t be missed, I’m not really sure about other people but I do keep my eyes off the road. And when I spot something like this my truck usually ends up off-road.

Sanguinaria canadensis I couldn’t help but to pull over to get a better look. Besides there were so many I wasn’t hesitant to sacrifice one of these for a better look at what gives them their name. When broken the stems and root bleed a redish-orange sap. The root is toxic but has medicinal and other uses. It has been said that one Native American tribe used it as a love charm. A man would rub the sap on the palms of his hand and then scheme to hold hands with the woman he desired to marry. After 5 – 6 days the woman would be willing to marry if she had held hands. Another use is to apply the sap to warts, I suppose just to make them look pretty because mine aren’t going away. The sap was also used as a dye and to stain the skin for decorative purposes. I’ll have to try next time I want that healthy bottled tan look on my face. I also found it interesting that Bloodroot is a member of the Poppy family. I guess the sap runs thick among them.

Bloodroot is one of my favorite flowers. I love the way the flower emerges from the clasping leaf as if the plant had cupped it in a protective hand until ready to open.

And last but not least is the flower itself. Bright white with a brilliant yellow center.

This is a great woodland – shade garden plant. It naturalizes easy and needs very little care. About the only thing you have to make sure of is not to put it in a spot that becomes bone dry in the summer or in a place where it will have wet feet. Mine get plenty of sun in spring but as the trees leaf out the area only receives a bit of sun early in the morning. In the wild they often grow along the edge of woods only emerging to the point where the hot summer sun does dry out the soil.

Wildflower season is off to a good start in the north county. One of the early and easiest wildflowers to spot is Coltsfoot since it often grows along the road. I spotted these at Higley Flow, (St. Lawrence County, NY). I missed them at first, they had their faces turned away from me and I drove right by. The flowers follow the sun and I’m just not bright enough to pay attention to. On the return trip they couldn’t be missed. The bright yellow flowers glared at me from the bank along the road.

Many people probably pass this flower by thinking they’re dandelions. From a distance they do look like them but when you get up close you can see the difference. First off there are no leaves present when the plant blooms. Those will come later but right now all that is present is the odd looking stalk with the flower on top.

It prefers very loose sandy soil and another great place to find this plant is in the many sand pits around the county.

I had to add this photo – the macro makes it look (to me) like a giant among boulders. It also is a good view of the flowers backside and stalk.

I liked this group photo and since it was long past due to change my desktop wallpaper I sized an image just for that use. Feel free to use it yourself for that purpose.

Click the display image to open the larger background sized one – You figure out how to use it if you want it. (hint – right click on large image for menu)

Last but not least – I couldn’t let you leave without a macro shot

She loves me
She loves me not
She loves me

Better stop there or she’ll be gone before I finish.