Spring Wanes, Summer Begins

Golden alexanders, Schenley, 24 May 2020 (photo by Kate St. John)

26 May 2020

Memorial Day was certainly the official start of summer with a high of 86 degrees F yesterday, 13 degrees above normal. The signs of spring are long gone, replaced by a lot of leaves.

With spring on the wane there are fewer plants to attract attention. Here’s what I’ve seen in Schenley Park, May 10 to 24.

  • Golden alexanders (Zizia aurea), a perennial in the carrot family.
  • Squaw root (Conopholis americana), a non-photosynthesizing parasite on oak roots. This is a banner year for squaw root in Schenley.
  • Columbine (Aquilegia sp.) is mildly toxic to animals, which explains why the deer haven’t eaten it.
  • Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) flowering on May 17. The pawpaws in Schenley grow in single-plant clumps so the flowers are not fertilized and rarely produce fruit.
  • Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) flowering on May 10, also toxic to deer.
Squaw root, Schenley Park, 10 May 2020 (photo by Kate St. John)
Columbine, Schenley Park, 24 May 2020 (photo by Kate St. John)
Pawpaw flower, Schenley Park, 17 May 2020 (photo by Kate St. John)
Mayapple flower, Schenley Park, 10 May 2020 (photo by Kate St. John)

This beautiful flower hides under the mayapple’s leaves.

Mayapple blooming, Schenley Park, 10 May 2020 (photo by Kate St. John)

(photos by Kate St. John)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *