SWEET CICELY

A WILD AND WINDY VISIT TO THE BEACH

SWEET CICELY JUST STARTED BLOOMING...

DEEPLY LOBED, OPPOSITE LEAVES ALONG THE FLOWER STALK ...

...AWESOME AMONG THE LAST LUPINES

Thursday, 7:30 AM.  54 degrees F at the ferry dock, 52 on the back porch.  Wind variable and calm.  The sky has a high overcast, after a surprise shower last night that left a quarter inch of rain in the gauge.  Humidity 89%, barometer 29.99" and steady.  It looks like more rain and warm weather for Saturday then clearing;  I have exterior painting to do and am looking for some sunny and dry weather,

   Buddy and I went to the beach yesterday around dinner time and fortunately got blown back to the truck before we could freeze to death.  The wind was truly brutal, the waves attacking the beach with vengeance, and the temperature more like October than June; so much for Global Warming in Bayfield!

   My favorite wildflower, sweet Cicely, Osmorhiza chilensis, in the Parsley Family, the Umbelliferae, has just come into bloom.  There are a number of species of Osmorhiza with the same common name and general properties, but I am pretty sure of its scientific name because it is very specific to Bayfield County near Lake Superior.  In any case this species, as are others in the genus, is very sweet scented.  The plant parts have a licorice flavor, and decoctions of it were used in native American medicine for many ailments.
   Note: extreme caution should be used with all members of the parsley family, as they can be confusing, and some are deadly poisonous.
   O. chilensis is found on the Bayfield peninsula, the far western US and coastal regions of South America.