We humans aren't the only
ones to experience a bad hair day. A cluster of low-growing
pasque flowers can appear to be having such an experience
right before they open to the warmth of spring. The two-week
window for blossoming is stretching into three in our yard.
The pasque flower is a quiet perennial in the showiness
category. Its name is a reference word for our Easter holiday.
It is an anemone, but is larger than other family members.
I do not remember where I bought the plant, but it is 3
years old. There is a generous cluster now. It does reseed
itself.
In strong contrast to the daffodils, which are definitely
the show-offs of spring, these lavender blossoms hunker
low to the ground, about 6 inches tall.
The growth habit is related to its background as a tundra
plant. It is a way to avoid the chill air that accompanies
the onset of spring. Their heads get heavy and they droop
right before the flower opens. But when it opens, behold
the purple petals and the yellow stamens that just yell
a bit.
Fond of the colors -- direct complements on the color wheel
-- I am drawn to my Vermilion high school's purple and gold
colors. Ashland University drenches its campus in the same
hues.
The regal nature of the colors make this plant special.
As you stoop to view it, you note the hairy fibers that
flow from the stem to the underside of each leaf. These
silky fibers are rather long and quite soft. The "hair"
serves the plant as insulators.
This is South Dakota's state flower. It thrives in well-drained
spots, seeks sand and gravel offered by roadsides and can
still be found on the tundra in southward-facing slopes.
Not exactly the tundra here, but I finally did plant something
in the correct location.
It would be a lousy cut flower, wilting immediately, as
most wildflowers do. The sap it contains can cause reactions
in sensitive people. On the other hand, the plant has been
utilized in the treatment of eye diseases, especially cataracts.
There are homeopathic remedies extracted and brewed from
this plant. Most are related to the mind. Here, there is
potential relief from gloominess, depression, restlessness,
brooding, pessimism and scattered thinking. But be aware
of the fact that the pasque flower plant should never be
directly ingested.
Isn't it wonderful to think of this plant lifting the low
mental state that can overpower us during the cold months?
|
Select a Florist
