ST. JOHN'S-WORT IS BLOOMING

ST. JOHN'S WORT PLANT...

...DISTINCTIVE YELLOW FLOWERS 

Tuesday, 8:30 AM.  66 degrees F at the ferry dock, 65 on the back porch.  Wind SW, mostly calm with occasional light gusts.  The sky has a high overcast, the humidity is 92%.  The barometer is mostly steady, now at 29.94" of mercury.  Today will be in the mid-seventies with chances of rain (we had a good shower last night), then clearing tomorrow with highs around 80.  There will be cooler weather and mixed skies towards the weekend, with further chances of rain.
    I have not seen Sasquatch in the rainy woods hereabouts as yet, but I won't be surprised if he shows up in Bayfield, as there have been consistent reported sightings in other northern Wisconsin counties, most occurring late on a Saturday night or early Sunday morning.

   Saint John's-wort is the common name for the Genus  Hypericum in the St. John's-wort Family, the Guttiferae  This is a confusing genus, with several dozen species common throughout North America, both native and introduced.  I would have a difficult time telling most of them apart and don't even try.  The genus name is from the ancient Greek for the plant.  "Wort" is old-English, simply meaning "plant." My recorded bloom dates for St. John's-wort are: 7/15/16; 7/27/15;7/18/13;7/15/08, right on time this year.

   Probably the most common is the European species, H. perforatum, which has long been known and used in herbal medicine for its antidepressant qualities, and as such is a valuable medicinal herb, which is readily available for purchase in drug stores, but I would not recommend its use, nor use the collected herb itself, without professional supervision, as it can interact with other medications. The species name refers to tiny clear dots on the leaves, that make them appear to be "perforated."

  Hypericum species are very common along roadsides and in vacant fields and are quite pretty, with distinctive stamens that extend above the five-petaled golden yellow flowers.  They are perennial herbs, which may grow to perhaps three feet in height.

   St. John's-wort is on the Wisconsin DNR list of prohibited invasive plants, and I suppose it might be considered a noxious field and garden weed, but banning it is a stretch for me.

   I may have to transplant one to my garden, just to be obstreperous.