Woodland Star

"Small-Flowered Woodland Star" (Lithophragma parviflorum)

2008 April 4

I first noticed this plant for the first time on this date.
It seemed to growing almost like a ground cover up on the bluff.

2008 May 9

2008 May 20

2009 May 20

A perennial.

Wild Sarsaparilla

"Wild Sarsaparilla" (Aralia nudicaulis)

2008 May 27

2008 May 27

2008 May 27

2008 May 31

2008 July 28

2007 Fall Colours

The fall colours of this plant caught my eye but I didn't know what it was until the following spring when I found it in flower.

Some used a decoction of this plant as a blood purifier while others made a tea to treat colds. The rhizomes can be made into a refreshing drink (a substitute for true sarsaparillis) and have a spicy fragrance. I have found references that the berries can be used to make wine.

Red Osier Dogwood

"Red Osier Dogwood" (Cornus stolonifera)

2008 May 15
In Bud

2008 May 18

2008 June 11

2008 June 22

2008 June 14

2008 July 10

2007 September 3

2007 September 3

2007 September 3

2007 September 3

We found this shrub growing on a trail that would seem to be in a very dry area. we are pretty sure that there is an underground stream that runs through this area for there are a number of water loving plants in the vicinity. However, most of these plants seem to be under stress and we think it is because our water tables have dropped over these last few years of drought like conditions. In any event, this plant looks healthy even though they normally grow in moist soil ... an osier bed is a river bed.

Moose love feeding on this plant and soon after I took those pictures in September of 2007, a moose went through and gave this shrub a severe hair cut. None the less, 2008 found it making a fine come back.

The First Nations peoples put this plant to any number of uses:

• berries added to saskatoons for a sweet and sour affect
• berries used as a mouth wash
• inner bark was boiled and used to treat any number of things
• branches were used to make fishing devices
• bent branches used to mjake sweat houses
• wooden skewers

It is also a very attractive plant ... easily propagated by cuttings ... would look nice in our yard but our yard isn't all that moist!

Plantain: Rattlesnake

Rattlesnake Plantain (Goodyera oblongifolia)

2008 June 2

2008 June 19

2008 June 24

2008 July 1

2008 July 20

2008 July 27

2008 July 31

2008 May 18

This plant was growing in our own back yard so it was easy to document its progress!

The leaves were sometimes used as a poultice for cuts and sores or, a concoction was made for ulcer and stomach troubles. Some First Nations women chewed the leaves to ease childbirth.

Milk Vetch: Canadian

"Canadian Milk Vetch"

Astragalus canadensis

2007 July 7

2007 July 7
The old seed head next to this year's flower was the clue to the identity of this plant ... seed pods erect with a tiny hook at the end.

2007 July 20

Seed pods forming.

I found this plant in a couple of different places along the lake shore near where I live. This plants likes to drink ... water, not Canadian Whiskey!

False Solomon's-Seal

"False Solomon's-Seal"
(Maianthemum racemosum)

2008 May 15

2008 May 15

2008 May 15

2008 May 16

2008 May 27

208 May 27

2008 May 27

2008 May 27

2008 June 19

2008 June 19

2008 June 20

2007 July 16

2007 July 16

2007 July 31

2007 August 24

2007 August 24

2007 August 24

2007 August 25

2007 September 1
Fall Colors

If this is False Solomon's Seal then what is true Solomon's Seal? Apparently the difference lies in the lay of the flower. True Solomon's Seal has flowers hanging from all along the main stem underneath the foliage. False Solomon's Seal puts it's flowers all out front ... on the very tip of the stem. There you have it ... and I've wondered this for ages!

This plant has been used for various things; the roots as a blood purifier; the rhizomes were eaten by some as were the berries. Its culinary uses don't seem to solicit any rave reviews. D and I tasted the ripe berries ... not too bad really, but mostly seed (2 per berry).

We found this plant in an area that we feel must be fed by an underground stream. Other, moisture loving plants, may be found nearby. It is also the moist, shady kind of place that mosquitoes like hanging out in!

"Star-Flowered False Solomon's Seal"
(Maianthemum stellatum)

2008 May 21

2008 May 21

2008 May 23

2008 June 20

2008 June 30

2008 July 8

A smaller plant than M.racemosa with a different flower.