Garden Detective

According to holidayinsights.com, which apparently puts bizarre holidays on the calendar, the second week in May is officially Wildflower Week. Who knew?

To compensate for the fact that this holiday has eluded me all these years, I'd like to make it up to wildflowers everywhere by giving them a day in the spotlight.

William J. Hamilton, Jr., who was a gardener for 70 of his 82 years, consultant to Cornell Plantations for 30 years, and an emeritis professor of zoology at Cornell University, grew more than 100 different wildflowers in his 3 1/2-acre Ithaca garden. Who better to recommend native northeastern wildflowers to the Cornell Cooperative Extension in New York?

Here's his list, as published by the CCE-Sullolk:

Large White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum). Waxy, pure white, whorled three-petaled flowers. Bloom period May-June. Petals echoed in the graceful, whorled, trio of low-growing leaves. Neutral to moderately acid soil (pH 5-7); moist or semi-dry. Partial shade or filtered sunlight. Does well on slopes; also can be cultivated on flat land. Prefers canopy of deciduous trees; does less well under evergreens. Takes 4-5 years to bloom from seed. Multiplies readily. (Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources photo)

Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia). Foam-like spikes of miniature white flowers on stalks up to 9 inches high. Blooms April-June. Plants 6-12 inches. Neutral to moderately acid soil (ph 5-7); moist. Shade. Does less well under evergreens. Light oakleaf groundcover desirable. (US Forest Service photo)

Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum). Stately brown and green-hooded flowers at base of 15- to 20-inch plant. Blooms April-June. Bears scarlet berries in August. Moderately acid soil; moist. Partial shade. Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica). Delicate, starlike white or pink petals with rose-colored veins on 4- to 6-inch fragile stalks. Blooms April-May. Plants trail on forest floor. Neutral to slightly acid soil; moist. Filtered sunlight. (Photo courtesy Robert H. Mohlenbrock @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA NRCS. 1995. Northeast wetland flora: Field office guide to plant species. Northeast National Technical Center, Chester.)

Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense). Flowers hidden by leaves, maroon with a flush of soft gray green; resemble tiny stone jugs. Plants 4-6 inches. Makes good groundcover because of attractive, long-lasting foliage. Neutral to slightly acid soil; moist. Shade. (Photo courtesy Jennifer Anderson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database)

White Baneberry (Actaea pachypoda). White flowers in tight oblong clusters. Blooms April-early June. Plants 1-2 feet. Waxy white fruits with black eye, borne on red stalks. Neutral to moderately acid soil; moist. Shade or filtered sunlight. (Photo by Jennifer Anderson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database)

Black Cohosh; Bugbane; Fairy Candles (Cimicifuga racemosa). Tall candles of tiny white feathery flowers. Blooms June-Sept. Bold, showy plant 3-8 feet high. Neutral to moderately acid soil; moist to somewhat dry. Partial shade or full sun. (North Dakota State University Cass county Extension photo)

Rue Anemone (Anemonella thalictroides). Fragile flowers in shades of pink and white. Blooms March-May. Plants 4-6 inches. Lacy whorl of small, three-lobed leaves. Neutral to slightly acid soil; moist. Filtered sunlight. (Photo by Jennifer Anderson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database)

Virginia Bluebells; Virginia Cowslips (Mertensia virginica). Nodding clusters of pink buds turn into porcelain blue flowers. Blooms March-May. Plants 1-2 feet. Leaves oval, strongly veined. Nearly neutral soil (pH 6-7); moist. Partial shade. (Photo by Robert H. Mohlenbrock @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA NRCS. 1995. Northeast wetland flora: Field office guide to plant species. Northeast National Technical Center, Chester.)

Herb-Robert (Geranium robertanium). Tiny trumpet-shaped, rose-colored flowers, occasionally white. Blooms all summer. Plants 6-18 inches. Strongly scented, fernlike foliage that turns bronze in fall and is retained throughout winter. Neutral or slightly acid soil; moist or dry. Full or partial shade. (Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board photo)

Hungry for more? Order Common Wildflowers of New York State from the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County. (631-727-7850)

It might also be noteworthy to mention that May 1 was Save the Rhino Day. That one just flew under my radar. And in addition to being Bird Day, May 4 is also National Candied Orange Peel Day. But, personally, I'm sorry I didn't know sooner that today was No Socks Day. I would have planned my outfit accordingly.

There's always tomorrow -- Lost Sock Memorial Day.