The purple Climbing Nightshade wildflowers are blooming along the trails at Fort Hill. They are such a pretty wildflower with purple shooting star shaped flowers with 5 violet curved petals swept back from a central yellow “beak.” They grow in round clusters at the end of a long stem. The flowers are tiny, only about 1/2” while the vine climbs to 4 feet.
The berries, which you can see in the photograph are egg-shaped, shiny green and ripen to bright red. Beware: the berries are extremely poisonous. “The unripened berries of this plant have a toxin that can cause death when eaten.”
Enjoy these beautiful, delicate wildflowers from a distance!
Spotted Wintergreen is such an interesting wildflower as the waxy white flowers droop down to the earth until they bloom and then they face the sun. The Spotted Wintergreen is very similar to a wildflower that I used to see in Colorado called Pipsissiwa which has solid green leaves.
Spotted Wintergreen grows from 4-10″ with 1″ flowers. They bloom in July and August in the woods so you still have plenty of time to find them.
Have you ever seen a Spotted Wintergreen wildflower? Pretty cool looking flower, don’t you think?
This beautiful orange Monarch butterfly was flitting around my yard from Butterfly Plant to Butterfly Plant. I followed him around looking for that perfect photo-op.
I loved this photograph of the Monarch head on What do you think? You can see all of the features in his little head!
The Crown Vetch wildflowers were so pretty on the trail from Doane Rock to Coast Guard Beach. These pink and white bi-colored flowers form 1 1/2″ golf ball size clusters at the end of a stalk and grow 1-2 feet. They make a very pretty ground cover from June through August.
I saw this gorgeous Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly feeding on a Butterfly Plant at the high school the other day. I thought it was just magnificent with the orange flowers in the background.
Spicebush Swallowtail butterflies are 3 1/2″ to 4 1/2″ in wingspan making them a large butterfly. They are so different in coloing when their wings are open and when their wings are closed.
So pretty, don’t you think?
Cape Cod daily articles on the wonderful Cape Cod places to hike, experience and photograph. A Cape Cod Outdoor Adventure Series.
