Viewing comments posted by wildflowers

85 found:

[ Winter Squash (Cucurbita moschata 'Black Futsu') | Posted on December 5, 2011 ]

I've grown this squash for three years now. We really like the sweet nutty flavor, with a nice texture. The squash have always matured at around 90 days, no matter when I plant the seeds, they always do great. The plants are not real big like most; vines are probably between 3 and 4 feet long. Would make a good patio plant, or grown in a pot. Squash are on the small side, but enough to serve two which is perfect for us. Long storage, though winter. Maybe longer but they've never lasted that long.

[ White Trout-Lily (Erythronium albidum) | Posted on December 5, 2011 ]

The flowers bloom from just mid-March until mid-April. White Trout Lily is a very special woodland plant that usually blooms a little earlier than other spring flowers, although, immature plants that don't bloom always out-number mature plants.. Trout lily bulbs produce just one leaf in the first 6 years, then 2 leaves, a scape-stem, and finally a flower in the 7th year. White Trout Lily can produce large colonies of plants if it is left undisturbed for several decades. Both the flowers and mottled foliage are attractive. The flowers are primarily pollinated by both long-tongued and short-tongued bees; for nectar and pollen.

[ Philadelphia Fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus) | Posted on December 4, 2011 ]

Considered a weed by some, the pretty little daisy-like wildflower blooms in April. It’s native to Texas and most of the U.S. and is found growing along roadsides and in fields and woodlands. Biennial or short-lived perennial plant grows up to 2½' and unbranched, except near the inflorescence. The pollen or nectar of the flowers attracts many kinds of insects, including long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, skippers, beetles, Carpenter bees, Nomadine Cuckoo bees, Green Metallic bees and other Halictine bees, Eumenine wasps, Tachinid flies, and Thick-Head flies. Caterpillars of the Lynx Flower Moth eat the flowers and seed capsules.

[ Maypop (Passiflora incarnata) | Posted on December 4, 2011 ]

Passiflora incarnata is native to Texas as well as Midwestern and Southeastern states. It’s an exception to most passifloras, being deciduous, it can survive winter freezes and comes back from its roots. Commonly called Maypops. They are a host plant for caterpillars of the gulf fritillary butterfly. Mature fritallaries deposit pinhead sized orange eggs on the leaves. Passionflower is both an edible and medicinal plant.

[ Sweet Goldenrod (Solidago odora subsp. odora) | Posted on December 4, 2011 ]

Sweet goldenrod, Solidago odora (There are several species of goldenrod growing here but sweet is my favorite) Perennial grows 2-5’ stems arising from short rhizomes blooms late summer. Hairy stems bear alternate stemless single veined narrow dark green leaves. Smells like licorice when crushed. In late summer densely crowded golden-yellow flowers appear in branched clusters at the top of the stems. The individual blossoms are arranged in rows along the upper sides of the branchlets. Fuzzy gray seedheads containing tiny nutlets replace the blossoms later in the fall. It performs well in heavy clay soil. The leaves make a flavorful herbal tea. Due to its strong anise flavor, there has been interest in using oil extracted from this species as a flavoring agent. Sweet goldenrod leaves and tops (picked during the flowering period) have been used to make herbal medicines for a variety of disorders including digestive and urinary problems, wounds, ulcers and cancers. Prior to today’s anesthesia, seeds of this plant were used to promote a delirious and forgetful state of mind in surgical patients. The flowers yield a deep yellow dye. The flowers will attract ladybugs, lacewings, hoverflies and other garden friendly insects.

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