Dame’s Rocket
While purple dominates the roadside, with lilacs and lupine in full bloom, we can also find other late spring visitors — Dame’s Rocket, Snow-in-summer, Caucasian Stonecrop and wild Thyme along Stonington’s streets.
Dame’s Rocket (Hesperis matronalis) is a member of the mustard family (Brassicaceae). In Wikipedia, one reads that this flower has numerous common names, including dame’s rocket, damask-violet, dame’s-violet, dames-wort, dame’s gilliflower, night-scented gilliflower, queen’s gilliflower, rogue’s gilliflower, sweet rocket, and mother-of-the-evening.) Apparently it was cultivated but escaped into the wild and is now considered a weed. If you are familiar with the phrase, “she’s growing like a weed,” you can imagine this fast-growing, tall flower. Although it only recently appeared for its spring visit to the island, it’s already waist high.
Snow-in-summer
Snow-in-summer is a bountiful and beautiful plant with white flower that, unlike Dame’s Rocket, sits low to the ground in blanket-sized patches along the roads here. Despite its beauty, it can be considered an aggressive nuisance because it will spread quickly and out-compete other species. Note the “felty” foliage beneath these flowers — a telltale sign.
Creeping phlox with Caucasian Stonecrop
The other two plants I mentioned, Caucasian Stonecrop and while thyme are really part of the “understory” along the roads that I walked with Eddy today. They sit below other flowering plants and add a depth of color that’s subtle and satisfying.
Time for Thyme
Almanac
Today’s Forecast: Cloudy conditions will continue for the rest of the day. Wind gusts are up to 10 mph.
| Weather | ||
|---|---|---|
| Low Temperature: 55 | High Temperature: 67 | Precipitation (in): <.05 |
| Wind Direction: SSW | Max Wind (mph): 10 | |
| Sunrise: 4:51 | Sunset: 8:17 | |
| Lunar Phase: Waxing Cresecent | Days to Next Full: 19 |
References
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