Cool August Wildflowers

August is still unseasonably cool and lots of rain. One morning this week was down to 44 degrees Fahrenheit. It feels like fall already. I am noticing Sumac turning bright orange and yellow and all the trees have lost some of their luster. The wildflowers are plentiful and I have found some old friends but also some new ones. Most of the following were found in wet areas from my farm or the immediate neighborhood.
         This stand of  Joe-Pye weed, named for a Indian healer, is around eight feet tall and is behind my chicken house.

#239- Joe-Pye Weed 

 A common companion plant is Ironweed, another 6 foot + wildflower.

#240- Ironweed 

 What an interesting plant, the common Groundnut. This plant was a staple in the diet of most Native American Indians. Many believe that it was so vital to them that it was planted anywhere they may have lived for extended periods of time. On the farm that I live on, I have found several dozen complete arrowheads and hundreds of broken pieces and the related debitage.  These are mostly from the late Archaic period and I have also listed the site as a West Virginia Archaeological site. Finding the groundnut in the immediate area is interesting and likely related.

#241- Groundnut

#242- Field Milkwort

#243- Peppermint (non-native, hybrid plant)

#244- Arrow Tearthumb 

Arrow Tearthumb Stem

#245- Yellow Wood Sorrel

#246- Virgins Bower

#247- Stiff Cow Bane 

Stiff Cow Bane Leaves

#248- Sneezeweed

#249- Tall Goldenrod 

#250- Winged Sumac 

#251- Common Burdock (non-native)

#252- Black Medick (non-native)