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Water Parsnip (Hemlock Water Parsnip, Sium Suave), Found blooming in swamps, wet meadows, lake shores, and ditches.  Stems and leaves can be toxic.  The root is considered to be edible in the spring and the autumn, however, it so resembles very poisonous plants that it should be considered unsafe to eat.  An infusion of crushed root has been used to bring relief from broken bones.  Photo by Erik W. L. Anderson

Wednesday, August 15th, 2007 - Report by

We get together at 10:30 and have no trouble talking about what is new about flowers and other "important" things for the next hour or so.
We decided to go up the Ball Club road to the Pit Lake overflow. Bette had not seen the Wood-orchids. The "orchid man" from Cross Lake had gone out in his raft and paddled around and counted 45 orchids. They must be way over their prime as we saw only four.
Then over on The Grade and down Bally Creek Road, It is so dry many of the colorful roadside flowers are taking a rest. We did see Asters, Joe Pye & Pearly Everlasting. Most of our energies were spent identifying smaller more insignificant flowers like Rough Hawkweed (Hieracium scabrum), Lesser Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron strigosus Newcomb #382), Bicknell's Cranesbill (Geranium bicknellii  Peterson #260), Achillea, The Pearl - a garden escape.
Then in the marsh off of Bally Creek, the cutest, tiny, yellow flower. We had seen it before and it was still blooming - many of them, four inches high with grass-like leaves - Creeping Spearwort (Ranunculus reptans Newcomb #176). Also in that area were Water Parsnip (Sium suave).
The weather was perfect - we had a good, relaxing day - stopping now and then, walking up several forest roads and paths. We had hoped to see Pipsissewa blooming but didn't.

 

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