Please Visit Our Sponsor:

This is the beginning of our 24th year of looking at wildflowers in Cook County, MN. We are three senior women who just love to get out and explore and learn new things. We are even getting together all winter but don't find too many flowers at that time, but no matter.

Cow Parsnip (Heracleum maximum), "hogweed"- Photo by Erik W. L. Anderson  Cow parsnip, can be found growing along the North Shore Drive, Gunflint Trail, Kawishiwi Trail, Echo Trail, Sawbill Trail, Arrowhead Trail, and often grows in moist meadows. Young leaf stalks and stems can be used like celery in stews. The leaves may be dried, burned and the ashes used as a salt substitute.  (It is not recommended that individuals attempt to identify and use wild herbs on their own).  The flower blossoms can be steeped in oil and rubbed on the body to keep off flies and mosquitoes.  Another Northern Minnesota wildflower that can be used to stave off mosquitoes is Yarrow.  Simply crush the leaves in your fingers and rub them on your skin.

Wednesday, July 6th, 2005 - Report by

Lorraine took a trip to Minneapolis. The interesting thing was that I recognized all the flowers seen as we whizzed by in Cook County. As we went farther south there were ones unknown and especially on #35 one couldn't even stop to check them out.
After four years (she joined us in July 2001) Jean has left our Wednesday Wildflower group for health reasons. She will be missed.

July 13, 2005: We have had very hot, humid days - reaching 80 degrees. We chose to stay near the big lake because it was cooler. We had been invited to visit some of our friends gardens and that seemed a good idea. First we had to check out the white flower at the Congregational Church by the driveway. We had noticed it last week and B did some research on it. It turned out to be Campanula Persicifolia (Peach Leaf Bell Flower) Also Malva is often called Mallow - it is a perennial related to the annual mallow - Lavatera.
Before we went to visit gardens we drove around town enjoying the various gardens. Then to #61 to see the Large Flowered Penstemon and Vipers Bugloss. The Penstemon was fading but the Vipers Bugloss had spread a lot. They say that it is invasive.
Along the highway the large, showy white Cow Parsnips are blooming along with more daisies and Bird's-foot Trefoil that we saw last week. A newcomer this week is Fireweed.

 

 

 

Click here for the most recent report!

  Be sure to stop back throughout the Spring and Summer to see our weekly wildflower reports from Lorraine Anderson of Grand Marais, Minnesota.