Spring Azure on Marsh Marigold
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 
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May 4th, 2009 at 11:11 am
Very cool! How did you get the butterflies to sit still? I had the worst time with the native bees yesterday…
May 4th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Ephemeral is right. I have one pot of marsh marigolds in a little water garden and it’s come and gone already. But when they’re here they sure are beautiful!
Great photos!
May 4th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Very pretty. Both the bloom and the butterfly!
May 5th, 2009 at 12:45 am
Great pictures. What camera/lens do you use – if I may be bold enough to ask?
May 5th, 2009 at 6:46 am
I love marsh marigold, they’re such a sunny warm color. P.S. I don’t want to panic you, but you seem to post at least once a day. Impressive.
May 6th, 2009 at 10:56 am
Our marsh marigolds are in their full glory right now up here…LOVE the shots with the butterfly!
May 8th, 2010 at 8:02 pm
I love your web site and Thanx to coming across it I now know what the Marsh Marigold’s are….myself and my hubby dug some up today on our way home from shopping, didn’t know what they were but love the color of the flowers and I’m also just starting up my water garden this year and thought they would look nice in it….we have one small pond that I’m currently setting up for turtles then we have a waterfalls that starts at our deck goes down threw our front lawn as a stream to a large heart shape pond that have goldfish in it year round…in one part of the stream is where I’ve put the Marsh Marigold’s and hope to eventually put more wild water plants as I learn of them!! I also would like to add that allllll our rocks (around the 2 ponds and throughout the stream) have been carried in from anywheres between Nova Scotia up threw to Pembroke, Ontario, whenever we are traveling we usually always end up with rocks to bring back with us!!! Rocks always fasinated me as a child and they still do!!
We have gotten lots of compliments of our gardens and ponds but most of all it’s a Great passtime with Great Rewards and so relaxing to sit back and Enjoy and share with others!!
What other water plants would you recommend I try finding, I live East of Ottawa!! My gardens are all perennials and wildflowers (I carry a shovel and bucket with me at all times in the truck, always prepared lol)!! Also can you tell me what’s to be expected of the Marsh Marigolds, I know from what you have said, that they don’t flower long but do the foliage stay for the summer and what care is needed for them?? Mine are place in a shallow part of my stream with a large clump of soil/muck that they was growing in, is this adequate for them??
Thanx and Keep Up the Great Work you are doing with the web site, very informative which I will keep for furture reference!!
Have A Great Evening and Hope to hear from you soon!!