As I was away from the cabin while I was hawkwatching, now that my routine is returning to normal again, I am aware of how much has changed around the mountain in just a few days. The number of leaves that are yellow increased quite a bit, though the yellowing is still mostly in the smaller plants of the forest understory. The trees are still largely greenish, though more and more are starting to look, if not yet yellow, at least no longer summery green.
Even with this changing season, some plants are still flowering. The most profuse around Roundtop right now is the spotted touch me not, perhaps better known elsewhere as jewelweed. This is a plant that is native to North America, but has now also traveled elsewhere, notably England and Europe, which is somewhat novel, given the number of non-native European-based plants that now thrive here in North America.
Jewelweed is not the only flower I’m seeing right now, though every day I see fewer. Here and there I find a single daisy, a withering blue or white aster. Goldenrod blooms, as does Queen Anne’s Lace, but the season of flowers is passed and today’s equinox marks the start of new one.
So while I have a few flowers yet remaining around the mountain, I will enjoy them. Soon they will all be gone, and it will be six months before the new ones make their debut.
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No jewelweed left around here except for one fast-fading plant on the riverbank beside the steps. There are still a lot of asters, goldenrods, and a host of bright prairie species—and the big bluestem is not yet the color of burgundy wine. So plenty of color…for a while.
Ah, it's official Fall, isn't wonderful!!! As for color, it's growing more as the green because old as the month of September.
Griz: Funny that your jewelweed is near the end but mine is still going great guns.
Carolyn H.
Cathy: i have a fair amount of yellow at the moment, but then the first breeze brings the colored leaves down and for a while everything is green again.
I love fall, too!
Carolyn H.
Carolyn, do you have all yellow jewelweed flowers? In WV where I live we have flowers that are all yellow and some that look like the one you posted. Did you try eating the little blue seeds? Jackie is right, they do taste like walnut, which is very plentiful now. We also have a lot of wingstem still blooming but fading fast.
Squirrel, No, i don't have the yellow jewelweed here. I've just read about it, so I'm pretty sure it's not in my area. No, i've never tried eating the seeds. Maybe I'll give that a try...
Carolyn H.
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