Summer Heats Up

#140- Catalpa

The summer wild flowers are coming in quick now. All of the ones below are those I am finding just in day to day travels and rambling. The first is an interesting and pretty native. It is uncertain where  this trees native range originally was, and it has spread almost all over the country. It is the Catalpa Tree and is the only food source for the caterpillar of the Catalpa Sphinx Moth, which is commonly used in the south as catfish bait.  

Catalpa

Indian Pipe has often been described as a parasitic plant, but its relationship with plants and other fugi is much more complicated than originally thought. Read more here.  They are pollinated by insects, and you can see the yellow, insect attracting parts in the second picture. 

#141- Indian Pipe

The history of the next flower is interesting and close to home. Galax has a great flower, but it is the leaves that caught the attention of florists in the 1900's. It is gathered and used in floral arrangements because of its long lasting green leaves. The center of this industry for many years was Galax, Virginia. Gathering of this plant is restricted or prohibited in many areas but many people still supplement their incomes in the Appalachians.    

#142- Galax

Galax


Three Shrubs 

Black Elderberry is often used for locally to make jelly.

#143- Black Elderberry

Arrow Wood has very straight stems and branches and was reportedly used by Native American Indians to make arrows. 

#144- Arrow Wood 

Staghorn Sumac has a vivid red fruit which is often used to make a lemonade substitute and to garnish fish in recipes. It grows all over the farm here and is hard to eliminate. During deep snows, I go out and break branches to get the fruit down for the deer to eat, which they do with a relish despite is tartness. 

#145- Staghorn Sumac 

#146- American white waterlily

 And a few non-natives

#147- Deptford Pink

                    #148 - purple flowering raspberry 

#149- Cow Vetch 

#150- Least Hop Clover 

#151- Bittersweet Nightshade