The Trumpet-Creeper wildflowers are blooming on Cape Cod and they are spectacular! The 2″ bright reddish-orange tubular-shaped flowers grow on a woody vine that can climb to 12 feet tall. They are native to this area and bloom from July to September. (Click blog link for other photos.)
The first photo is of the cluster of flowers. The 2nd photograph shows how they grow in clusters and the 3rd photograph shows how the vine grows. This one was only about 8 feet tall but I’m sure will grow taller.
I love the deep bluish-violet color of the Chicory wildflowers blooming all over Cape Cod this time of year. They are such a pretty color and such a beautiful flower.
Chicory grows on a stiff stalk and has numerous stemless flower heads with petals that are fringed at the ends. Each flower only lasts for one day. They grow from June to October so you have plenty of time to see them!
I’ve seen a lot of Climbing Nightshade, also known as Bittersweet Nightshade, wildflowers along the trails on Cape Cod. I took this photograph at Fort Hill down by the marsh although you can see them all along the trails.
Climbing Nightshade wildflowers are a climbing vine with 1/2″ violet flowers swept back from a yellow central “beak” in loose clusters. It forms egg-shaped shiny green berries which turn to bright red in late summer.
The Indian Pipe wildflower is another wildflower that I’d never seen until I moved to the Cape. And here it is… in my own backyard. What a treat!
Indian Pipe has no chlorophyll so it is white, not green. It has whitish, scaly stalks that grow to about 4-10″ with nodding waxy 1″ bell-shaped flowers. They grow from July to September. I found these in the woods behind my yard.
Very interesting looking wildflower, don’t you think? Have you ever seen one?
I had never seen a Spotted Wintergreen wildflower until I moved to Cape Cod and found them in the woods in my yard. They are just beautiful. (Click on blog link to see more photographs.)
The Spotted Wintergreen is an erect 4-10″ plant with evergreen leaves and reddish stems. The 1″ flowers are waxy white with 5 petals and pronounced stamens and pistil which you can see in the photographs. They bloom in the woods in July and August.
The interesting thing is that when they are starting to bloom they look like they are drooping (2nd photo). As they get to full bloom they spread out and flip over to face the sun.
So pretty and delicate… have you ever seen a Spotted Wintergreen?
Cape Cod daily articles on the wonderful Cape Cod places to hike, experience and photograph. A Cape Cod Outdoor Adventure Series.
