ode to jewelweed; turtleheads and soapwort; spirea…a good haul.

I’ve posted a lot about jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) lately. Why? Why not? It’s ORANGE, it’s got a goofy structure, it’s an antidote to poison ivy, and wait ‘til you see what happens when it goes to seed. (Hint: its other name is “touch-me-not”).

Open up and say “ahh”.


Stick out your tongue.  This one is sadly blurry, but it shows how the side lower lips are stashed inside and just starting to emerge.



Trapeze artists. What are the chances of this happening?


All the way in, pal.
There are other flowers in the world besides jewelweed…let’s have a look at ‘em.

As berries ripen, leaves fade. False solomon’s seal (Smilicina racemosa).


Golden alexander (Zizia aurea) seeds ripening.


Some kind of aster.

new species, new species!

The aptly-named turtlehead! (Chelone glabra)

cute, huh?
I finally caught the moment where Queen Anne’s Lace seeds are forming.

The styles are still attached. I’m going with whimsical berets.

How I wish I hadn’t procrastinated. These are all done and gone, and I’m still not sure what they were.


Mother nature loves her five-petaled yellow flowers – this one’s a fringed loosestrife (Lysimachia ciliata).
new species! new species!

Bouncing bet, aka soapwort (Saponaria officinalis)
Finally, some meadowsweet (Spirea latifolia)

Yes, those are spider legs behind it. Feeling brave?

Hiya!