More Summer Wildflowers. August 19, 2011
Posted by littlebangtheory in Art and Nature.Tags: Bur cucumber, cow vetch, queen anne's lace, spotted Joe Pie weed, summer wildflowers, touch-me-not
trackback
At the risk of looking like a one trick pony, here are a few more shots of wildflowers taken this past week.
Spotted Joe Pie Weed, dotting our meadows with towering sprays of mauvey goodness:
Bur cucumber, an invasive vine with lovely cream flower spikes, topping every bush and shrub within this field of view in Williamstown:
Touch-me-not (or Jewel weed, as you wish) in both its orange and yellow incarnations:
This leafy succulent frequently grows amidst poison ivy and, miracle of miracles, its thick, aloe-like stem fluids can be applied to the skin to prevent the deleterious effects of the latter!
And a gone-by sprig of Queen Anne’s Lace, assuming its birds-nest late form as it stands guard for a bit of purple Cow vetch at its feet:
I used a variety of lenses to get these shots, from Elliot for the Bur cucumber to Ziggy for that last one and probably Ollie for the others; it’s been a long week, and I’m really not remembering all the details.
Anyway, that’s it for now. Weather’s coming, so something other than wildflowers is likely to appear here soon.
Little Bang Theory 
Weather shots are nice, but I certainly never tire of the wildflowers. I have yet to see a yellow jewelweed in person, and I have also never seen a wild bur cuke. The latter is in my Edible Wild Plants book, so I’d love to lay my eyes (and hands… and tongue) on some one of these days.
jomegat, the bur cucumbers I’ve seen were very light and airy, and I never even considered eating them (though I can’t say they wouldn’t be good because I haven’t tried them!) They’re about two inches long and covered with soft spiny points. I like to pick them with their spindly stems on and then sharpie mouse faces onto the other end, they make the cutest little fake pets! 😆
I never tire of looking at your flower photos either. Of course, I’m sure I’d end up in the emergency room if I ever tried eating anything found in the wild. Our distant ancestors shake their heads.