The other morning I went for a hike along a creek bottom near home. Taking advantage of the cool mornings we have had lately I knew the mosquitoes would be few and far apart.
I was looking for some Cardinal Flower which should have been in bloom for a while now here in this part of the world. I'm not sure if its named for its color being that of a songbird or a Catholic Cardinal in his red robes, but it could have been either. Bright red it stands out among the green in cool wet places like this.
I'm not sure what this yellow flower is , it reminded me of a evening primrose but way too tall. It pointed the way for me.
Sure enough I found it growing along the stream.
According to my well worn Owensby Prairie Wildflowers; Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis is a member of the Bluebell Family, " This plant has milky juice and is reputed to be of medicinal value, but poisonous. Nervous Diseases, convulsions, asthma, tetanus, and other nervous disorders have been treated by Lobelia species. Pawnee Indians used this plant as a love charm"
Poisonous , medicinal, love charm go figure. That's whats happening in my world this week.For more places around the world visit here.
5 comments:
Oh, wow. I sure did enjoy that. And I like that sweet girl in the post below.
Hi Larry, What a spectacular find. We have no Cardinal Flowers here in the Mts of CO. I do enjoy yours, though. The ways it might be used are very diverse indeed!
Beautiful. What an interesting bit about the many uses of Lobelia - new to me. :-)
A beautiful place for a walk. I recently saw Cardinal Flowers along the Virgin River in Utah. Nice captures.
Larry: What a neat capture, I see that yellow flower here also and they are gorgeous. I never saw the other.
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