Blossom by blossom the spring begins.
And time remembered is grief forgotten,
And frosts are slain and flowers begotten,
And in green underwood and cover
Blossom by blossom the spring begins.*
And happily, here at Wheatley Provincial Park, blossom by blossom our spring has begun. It seems that all winter long I’m counting the days ’til April’s arrival and the re-opening of the park. We were there on opening day to buy my season pass and then last week, I returned alone, and spring in the park was as sweet as ever! With the tree trunks surrounded by massive clumps of purple, white and yellow blossoms, spring’s wildflowers always seem more enchanting at Wheatley than anywhere else.
Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Fancifully known as “The Peasant's Clock” because it opens at sunrise and closes at dusk,
exactly the hours worked by peasants in the Victorian era.
One of my photography passions is wildflowers; they fascinate and charm me. All of them — even the simplest, most humble dandelions. Especially the dandelions.
Field Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense)
According to Greek Mythology, the Spartans believed that those who ate Cress became known for their immense wit.
From this belief comes the proverb, “Eat cress to learn more wit.”
Indigenous peoples believe that Field Pennycress contributes to soil health and crop sustainability. It is symbolic of responsible land management in some folklore traditions. Medicinally, it was used as a disinfectant, an antihistamine, and a diuretic. Massive clumps of Field Pennycress are now in bloom at Wheatley Provincial Park, land that is the traditional territory of the Caldwell First Nation.
Early Blue Violet (Viola adunca)
In the language of flowers, Violets represent modesty, the likely origin of the phrase, “shrinking violet”.
‘Though these woodland Violets look incredibly delicate, they are surprisingly robust. Their flowers always evoke a very special and moving memory — Mum gathering the wild Violets that bloomed at the bottom of our garden to make a posy to adorn my friend Darlene’s birthday pressie each May. Interestingly, flowers very often induce memories…
Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris)
In Celtic folklore, Marsh Marigolds were used to protect people and livestock from the naughty fairies and witches.
Sprigs were often hung on home and barn doors.
Throughout the woods, and bordering the creeks, Wheatley is flaunting an abundance of pretty wildflowers. Those dazzling blooms are an intrinsic component of Wheatley’s ecosystem and springtime beauty and none of those are more flashy than the Marsh Marigolds.
Purple Deadnettle (Lamium purpureum)
Known as “the happiness herb”, Purple Deadnettles were used in magical practices by witches and sorcerers
to uplift spirits, and promote overall well-being.
In mythology, Purple Deadnettle, also known as Purple Archangel, symbolizes safety, protection, and grounding, meanings that likely occurred because of its remarkable ability to grow in nearly all conditions. The ancient Greeks and Romans used this herb medicinally to treat allergies and provide relief from pain. These beauties are beginning to bloom along all the sunny roadsides in the park.
White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)
With its pure white petals and gentle scent, Trilliums are associated with serenity, resilience, enlightenment,
and a connection to the land.
On this spring morning in Wheatley, with the woods flush with snow-white Trilliums beginning to bloom, the park looked and smelled like hope and joy to me.
Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea)
In Greek, Roman and Celtic mythology, Ground Ivy was believed to protect agains sorcery and witchcraft.
Ground Ivy has more fanciful names than any other plant (at least that I’m aware of): Devil's Candlestick, Gill-Over-The-Ground, Creeping Charlie, Run-Away-Robin, Alehoof, Tunhoof, Catsfoot, and Field Balm. In the language of flowers, Ground Ivy signifies fidelity, long life, and enduring friendships.
Spring Ephemerals:
Yellow Trout Lily, Dutchman’s Breeches, Spring Beauties
Ephemerals are season-specific, short-lived plants that grow, bloom, and die in a few days,
only when conditions are favorable.
Yellow Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum)
In the language of flowers, Yellow Trout Lilies signify purity and innocence, so they were often used in marriage rites and ceremonies to evoke a long life of love.
The Yellow Trout Lily is the first of my three Spring Ephemerals, and my favourite. Used as a natural remedy for centuries by both Gypsies and Indigenous peoples, Yellow Trout Lilies symbolise joy, gratitude and new beginnings. All through the park, sometimes hidden by other plants, Yellow Trout Lilies are putting on a beautiful display.
Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)
This plant’s flowers were named for their resemblance to the pants worn by Dutch sailors.
My second Spring Ephemeral, Dutchman's Breeches, is emblematic of the fleeting nature of spring’s beauty. In folklore, it is revered for its magical powers as a love charm — carrying a stem of its blossoms is said to attract the love of a desired mate. The woods of Wheatley are awash with their pretty white blossoms.
Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica)
Spring Beauty, fancifully known as “Fairy Spud”, symbolizes nourishment; Indigenous peoples boiled and ate its tubers.
My third and final Spring Ephemeral sighting, Spring Beauty, is one of the woodlands’ earliest symbols of spring's arrival, often blooming as soon as the snow melts. Sadly, its delicate white and pink flowers are often overlooked by park visitors because it grows so close to the ground and is sometimes eclipsed by the abundant and showier purple and yellow blossoms.
And in green underwood and cover
Blossom by blossom the spring begins.
For me, celebrating wildflowers is like an adoration ritual — I’d never want to take their beauty, history and folklore for granted. My dad used to tell a very young me that wildflowers are Mother Nature’s smiles. I like that whimsy!
Springtime at Wheatley is like a siren’s call to me. There were flowers everywhere, the trees all had tender young leaves, the Migrants were busily building nests and singing out to each other, and the turtles were finally out of the water sunning themselves — true pastoral splendor.
’Til next time, y’all…
*Algernon Charles Swinburne, Page 17, “The Chorus” from his epic poem “Atlanta in Calydon” included in his anthology Complete Works of Algernon Charles Swinburne.