MEADOWSWEET AND A RAMBUNCTIOUS DOG

MEADOWSWEET...

...FLOWER SPIKE

Friday, 8:15 AM.  67 degrees at the ferry dock, cooler on the back porch.  The wind has turned SW, calm with some light gusts.  The sky is somewhat cloudy, the humidity is 83% and the barometer is steady, now at 30.11"
   Meadowsweet, Spiraea tomentosa, in the rose family, the Rosaceae, is blooming along the back dune at the beach.  It is quite attractive, although the blooms pictured are probably past their peak.  It is not uncommon if one is a frequenter of swamps and other wet places.  It is growing along with blueberries, wild roses and poison ivy in the damp sand.
   The spiraeas are important ornamental plants and there are a number of species in Europe and Asia so used, and they have been much hybridized. There are a number of other North American species as well.  Some species have herbal and folk medicine histories, and there are references to American Indian use of the plant as a medicinal tea.  In Quebec it is called The' Du Canada, which leads me to believe that there are traditional uses for the plant as a tea in that region. I have written quite a bit about meadowsweet, just use the blog search engine for more information.
   Buddy is getting more and more rambunctious with the shortening days; I think he is anticipating going bird hunting.