first mayflowers and coltsfoot April 23, 2008
Posted by Sandy in nature, wildflowers.Tags: wildflowers
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Do you know coltsfoot? I hadn’t seen in until recently. The plant grows oddly, without leaves, and low to the ground, kind of like a mushroom. It is one that has been used medicinally in the past, but I will let you read about that here, since I don’t want to suggest that anyone use it for that reason.
With the warm weather and sun this week, the buds on the trailing arbutus, or mayflowers, have quickly turned to blossoms. I can tell I am getting older, this is the first year I did not bend down to smell them when I took photographs.
Sandy, we found coltsfoot just yesterday during a hike up Tumbledown Mountain. Thanks for identifying it for us, we weren’t sure what it was.
I’ve seen those pretty yellow blooms, but didn’t realize that was Coltsfoot. Thanks for the education.
Hi Sandy, nice photos. Coltsfoot is quite common in my area (North West England) growing in the church yard opposite my house and in a wild area at the bottom of my garden. My books tell me that the young leaves add an interesting taste to a salad, but I have never ventured to try it. I think I now will.
Best regards
Tony
I think we’re about a week or more behind you down south. I just noticed the shad bushes blooming yesterday. I’ll be watching for the coltsfoot.
Hello
I’m doubly confused - I started reading your post, thinking you were in Scarborough - England.
Then, I realised how I categorise plants like Coltsfoot as ‘little dandelions’.
(And a whole range of others, likewise.)
Not very technical!
Esther Montgomery
ESTHER IN THE GARDEN
I don’t know if we have that here or not. I’m going to look it up in my NW flower book. Thanks for the wiki link too. These are lovely! I’ve seen yellow bells on the foothills and that’s about it. Oh, and Skunk Cabbage.
I photographed Coltsfoot on April 25th. It’s interesting the way it grows, isn’t it? Have you seen the Marsh Marigolds blooming lately? They’re pretty too.
I love those Mayflowers. Sometimes bending way down is just too hard on the old back