AMERICAN VETCH IS BLOOMING

AMERICAN VETCH...

BRUSH-STROKES OF BLUE VETCH IN FIELDS OF GOLD, GREEN AND WHITE

...VICEA AMERICANA

Tuesday, 8:00 AM.  65 degrees F at the ferry dock, the same on the back porch.  Wind NE, calm with light gusts.  The sky is partly cloudy and somewhat overcast, the humidity 87%.  The barometer will still fall some, and is now at 29.85" of mercury.
   We have to make a trip to Superior, WI, and it should be a nice day to travel.

   The  American vetch, Vicea americana, in the Legume Family, is a common roadside plant, native to much of North America.  It bears  panicles of quite colorful small, blue plea-like flowers.  It creeps and climbs by tendrils at the end of its compound leaves,  and can be somewhat weedy.  Blue wildflowers are a summer rarity, and it adds color and interest to our roadsides, particularly where it grows in large patches among the yellow Coreopsis.

   American vetch is used in forest fire and mining restoration projects and is a good wildlife forage plant.  Being a legume, it enriches poor soils.  The plant may be confused with the legume Crown Vetch, which has similar leaves but without tendrils.  Neither is welcome in my garden, however.

   According to my records it is blooming right about on time.