Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Small Bluets (Hedyotis caerulea)

Life in Christian County, Kentucky... More About Trees and Plants...



Small bluetts

A large patch of these tiny wildflowers have been blooming on the bank
above the old roadbed on the south side of our little property. They are so tiny that you could easily overlook just one plant in bloom, but when they bloom in mass, they make a splash of color that you can't miss.

These are small bluets, also known as Quaker ladies. This variety (Hedyotis caerulea, formerly known as Houstonia caerulea) is common to western Kentucky (according to my Kentucky wildflowers book and the online wildflower guide to the Land Between The Lakes area of KY/TN.)

They must be tough little flowers, since they are flourishing in an area of our yard that bakes to a crispy crunch every August. They are annuals, so probably their seed has already matured before the hot dry weather of Kentucky's late summer arrives.

Small bluet, Hedyotis caeruleaSome other varieties of Quaker ladies have yellow centers, but our Quaker ladies have violet hearts to match the outer edges of their petals. They are so petite that you'll probably never see them in a bouquet. They're just sweet little flowers of the field.

Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. --Song of Solomon 2:12

Related site: Bluets (with music) --very nice.

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CONTENTMENT: Keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry, live simply, expect little, give much, sing often, pray always, forget self, think of others and their feelings, fill your heart with love, scatter sunshine. These are the tried links in the golden chain of contentment.
(Author unknown)

IT IS STILL BEST to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasure; and to be cheerful and have courage when things go wrong.
(Laura Ingalls Wilder, 1867-1957)

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