Tuesday, July 02, 2013

Wordless Wednesday 100: Spiderwort

I have been waiting to see the blue blossoms of spiderwort for weeks now.


Common Spiderwort, also known as Blue-jacket or Smooth
Spiderwort, typically blooms in our area late May to early August.
They are common in southwest Wisconsin, in dry to most prairies,
bluffs and dunes, and open oak and pine woodlands--
wherever they can get a bit of sun.



Between the winter that wouldn't end, and cooler than usual
springs temps, the spiderwort is at least a month behind this year.


Most plants are just starting to bud. The petals open in the morning,
and start to wilt around midday. Only a few flowers open at a time,
and some only bloom for one day.


Getting closer . . . The flowers are usually a vivid blue,
but can also be white or rose in color.


Finally, a few of the pretty three-petaled, triangular flowers are beginning
to bloom! I spied this group in between rain showers last Saturday.



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6 comments:

Yvonne said...

Lovely photos and I love the purple color!

Heather said...

Thanks, Yvonne. This is one of my favorite summer wildflowers.

Alice Audrey said...

I've heard this stuff is supposed to have all kinds of medicinal properties.

Jana said...

Kinda suspicious looking before they bloom but WOW! What a beauty afterward. :-D Great shots.

Heather said...

Alice: My Arboretum book makes no mention of medicinal properties, but it's quite possible.

Heather said...

Jana: Well. I guess we know where your mind is, LOL. (And if you think spiderwort buds are suspect, wait until you see what mullein looks like, hehe...)