In Connecticut, wildflowers are one of the most colorful ways that signal spring has arrived. The delicate blossoms of spring on Sheffield Island are nature's gift after a long cold winter. We love wildflowers because they help Sheffield Island's soil remain healthy and provide nectar for pollinators. Although the star attraction is the Lighthouse, the surrounding landscape has beauty everywhere you look so we decided to show you just four of our favorite spring wildflowers on Sheffield Island.
 |
| Our sentinel guest that loves Sheffield Island |
The first flower and a perennial favorite on Sheffield Island is the common blue violet (viola papilionacea). It is such a graceful plant with its heart-shaped leaves and five-pedaled blossoms. Did you ever notice that they are shaped like a butterfly? This flower's genus name is viola which is Latin for violet. Many think that it came from the Greek word, vion, a name related to Io, the beautiful water nymph whose tears turned to violets. We like to think that she loves Sheffield Island! The species name, papilionacea is Latin for butterfly-like, just look at the flowers to see the resemblance. Ecologically friendly, common violets are an important source of nectar for bees, butterflies, and moths. |
Sweet Butterfly Shaped Violets
|
In a shaded area on the Island, you may spot Common Chickweed, a delicate white blossom, which is widely dispersed throughout the world. Many people consider this a weed, not knowing that it has been used in folk medicine for centuries. Chickweed has been used as a remedy for itchy skin and as an aid to treat bruises and aching bones. Chickweed is edible and often used like sprouts! It is said that the cooked leaves taste like spinach. Unless you can positively identify this plant, don't eat it! |
Prolific and hardy - Chickweed
|
Beach Peas are just beginning to emerge. This sprawling vine, which is a proud member of the pea family, grows among driftwood and windswept sandy beaches. In Connecticut, it can be found along the shoreline, in salt marches, and hiding amid sand dunes. Beach Peas are a circumboreal species, meaning it exists around the northern hemisphere, as well as in Europe and Asia because the seeds of this plant remain viable in seawater for long periods of time, and somehow made their way around the world. In August, this long vine with its waxy dull green leaves produces showy purple flowers, that gradually turn blue as they mature... but more about that later! |
| Beach peas welcome spring |
Peeking out of the woods is a graceful clump of Starry False Solomns Seal. A native woodland plant, it has glossy green leaves and a plume of bell-shaped creamy white flowers, spectacular in May and June. To fast forward, the flowers are followed by attractive red-mottled berries that contrast beautifully with its green leaves in August. By September, the berries turn a rich mango color and the leaves turn to the color of wheat.
 |
Plumes of Starry False Solomns Seal in the woods on Sheffield Island
We hope you enjoyed this blog, stay tuned for late spring, summer, and autumn wildflowers and much more!
|
