All posts by Mel

Beautiful, But Poisonous, Yellow Common Tansy At Fort Hill On Cape Cod

If you park in the first lot at Fort Hill, you can see this beautiful Common Tansy by the side of the lot. I have never seen it before, so it was a big treat to take some photographs and then do some research.

Common Tansy are tiny, yellow button-like flowers which grow in flat-topped clusters. They grow to about 3′ erect and are colony-forming. The leaves are dark green and fern-like and aromatic. The scent is similar to that of camphor with hints of rosemary. They grow from July to September.

Caution: They are poisonous so observe them from a distance! The leaves and flowers are toxic if consumed in large quantities; the volatile oil contains toxic compounds including thujone which can cause convulsions and liver and brain damage.

 

Beautiful Blue Chicory Wildflowers Are Blooming On Cape Cod

The deep blue Chicory wildflower is blooming abundantly on Cape Cod this summer. Did you know that each flower lasts for only a day?

Chicory grows on a stiff stalk and has numerous stemless flower heads. It looks like the flower grows right on the stalk. The flowers are 1-1 1/2″ and the plant grows from 2-4 feet on roadsides and by the sides of trails from June to October, so you have plenty of time to see them!

Love the rod-like stamens in the center of the flower…

 

Early Morning Surfing On Coast Guard Beach On Cape Cod

It was  a beautiful morning for a walk to Coast Guard Beach, part of the Cape Cod National Seashore. Peering through the cutout of the bushes, you can see the lifeguard stand and a surfer coming in. So pretty…

Perfect day for a walk and perfect day to be at the beach!

 

Gorgeous Bright Orange Trumpet Creeper Wildflowers Blooming On Cape Cod

The bright orange Trumpet Creepers are gorgeous and prolific here on Cape Cod this summer. They seem to be everywhere! I took this photograph at Fort Hill on the road to the overlook.

Trumpet Creeper is a woody vine with bright reddish-orange tubular-shaped 5 petaled flowers. The flowers are 2″ with 7-11 in a group and climb to 12 feet from July to September.  They are native to this area.

Have you ever seen a Trumpet Creeper? So pretty! They look just like a trumpet!