Putting on one of the most spectacular displays possible, the Cardinal Flower, Lobelia cardinalis is now in full bloom. Found in 2/3 of our Ohio counties, Cardinal flower is not a rare plant, yet it tends to only inhabit high quality, wet woods.
The the river bottom at the new Gilliom-Cherp Nature Park in Ashland County is a-blaze with these beauties. It can be grown in your landscape, but give it plenty of water!
Lobelia cardinalis, Cardinal Flower is said to get its name from the color of a Cardinal's robes- yet if you pull off an individual floret, it has an uncanny resemblance to a bird in flight. Either way, Roger Tory Peterson declared this to be America's most popular wildflower.
We dedicated the newest of Ashland County Park District's park on Saturday morning, with ODNR's Director Sean Logan as keynote speaker. It is amazing that the folks of Ashland have dedicated their 11th park in seven year's time! You'll want to visit this one, just south of Ashland on Route 603, to see the incredible diversity and wildflower displays with your own eyes. The 189 acre park abuts the Blackfork Wetlands and Ashland University Wetlands, creating 600+ acres of wetland corridor, now permanently protected from urban sprawl. I can wait to get back to investigate all the dragonfly and sedge species!
What a pretty color! The park sounds like a great spot to find photo ops and enjoy nature.
ReplyDeleteOne of my fav wild flowers..well..I have allot of favorites!:)
ReplyDeleteso here i am playing catch up with blogs..I was out of internet range while driving cross country.
we are in Montana now at my sisters and have wifi..I am in heaven..beautiful here..but also happy i can catch up with blog reading..
ok off to read more!