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Too bad it was so foggy that we didn’t venture out earlier. What a wonderful ice fog to behold!

Had we left the house any later we would have missed the beautiful display all along the back roads to the main highway.

Car lights beamed through the fog and the land on the mountain looked liked it was topped off by a giant cloud. You couldn’t see far at all, perhaps an 1/8 of a mile at most.

Then, at the side of the road the weeds glowed with an extra bright white. The once white and golden-flowering weeds were white with a heavy frost. But it seemed like such a thick frost we termed it an “ice fog” that gave us the beautiful icy mini-sculptures to ponder.

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A sighting of a new coltsfoot plant reminded me that Nature does have a way of surprising us.

Like this one day in October I was thinking to myself, “Well, there’s nothing blooming now!” as I walked down the lane to the highway. Seeing all the tree leaves on the ground verified that we were well into Autumn and the hangers-on were providing most of the color in the scenery.

Photos taken 29 October 2015. (Click on any image to see a larger version.)

The few colorful exceptions were the Chrysanthemum and Alyssum planted next to the house where they receive southern sun during the day and warmth from the building at night. A stray aster or Indian Tobacco here and there showed a few blooms, but for the most part flowers are history for the year once November starts, in Central Pennsylvania at least.

Then I saw the witch hazel trees in an awesome flowering! Probably the most blossoms I have seen on these trees on the east side of the lane. Photos couldn’t do them justice as the blooms faded into the scenery of yellows and oranges provided by the awesome fall foliage.

Some had just uncurled their long, strap-like, yellow petals.

A few old nuts from last year were still attached to a stem…but were the food bits still inside?

An oddity, a curiosity. Why bloom so late? What pollinates the flowers, wind? They surely can take the cold!

After a month or more of chilling weather and a few storms with gusty winds the witch hazel flowers having lost their petals still cling to the branches. Perhaps their small nuts will grow here to become a future food for a squirrel or wild turkey.

When the holiday season comes to the mountains of Pennsylvania not much greenery can be found other than that of the pines and hemlocks that grow in our forests.

By December the deciduous trees are bare, but a few plants will still show green parts as long as the weather is mild. Ferns, grasses and mosses may retain some greenery the whole year while other plants in protected areas may still support a few leaves for a while longer.

I was surprised to see new leaves on a Coltsfoot plant that volunteered in the middle of the lane. There it was this green plant among all the grey and brown.

Photo taken 5 Dec 2015. (Click on any photo to see a larger image.)

The small new leaves with their perfect edges and solid color surround the central stems that have a purple hue. The older, larger leaves look raggedy in contrast.

So, I’ve made a mental note (and this post!) to help me remember what the new coltsfoot plant looks like now so that we can check it out in Spring.

If we’re lucky enough to see flowers, photos will be posted here in March or April, depending on how late the frozen part of winter lasts.

Welcome back to Flower Poetry Fridays with Mrs. Sigourney, where each Friday during the past year a new poem was posted from her The Voice Of Flowers.

At the end of her 1845 book of flower appreciation, she offers a “Glossary of Flowers Mentioned in This Volume”, which has been reproduced here in three parts. The last two Fridays we enjoyed the first and second parts of the flower glossary.

Today’s flowers, from N to W, is the third and last part of the flower glossary.

Glossary: Flowers N through W

Narcissus, . . . Self-love.

Nightshade, . . . Dark thoughts.

Oleander, . . . Beware !

Olive, . . . Peace.

Pansy, . . . Pleasant thoughts.

Pea, Everlasting, . . . Wilt thou go with me?

Pea, Sweet, . . . Departure.

Pink, . . . Woman’s love.

Piony, . . . Anger.

Polyanthus, . . . Confidence.

Poppy, Red, . . . Evanescent pleasure.

Poppy, White, . . . Consolation.

Primrose, . . . Modest worth.

Ragged Lady, . . . Bad housekeeping.

Rhododendron, . . . Majesty.

Rose, . . . Beauty and prosperity.

Rose, Cinnamon, . . . Maternal care.

Rose, Damask, . . . Bashful love.

Rose, Thornless, . . . Ingratitude.

Rose, Multiflora, . . . Grace.

Rose, Moss, . . . Superior merit.

Rose, Wild, . . . Lightness.

Rose-bud, Moss, . . . Confession.

Rose-bud, White, . . . Too young to love.

Sage, . . . Domestic virtues.

Snowball, . . . Thoughts of Heaven.

Soldier in Green, . . . Undying hope.

Spruce, . . . Integrity.

Sunflower, . . . Lofty thoughts.

Sweet-Briar, . . . Simplicity.

Sweet-William, . . . A smile.

Thistle, . . . Misanthropy.

Tulip, . . . A declaration of love.

Venus’s Fly-Trap, . . . Artifice.

Verbena, . . . Sensibility.

Violet, . . . Modesty.

Water-Lily, . . . Purity of heart.

Wax-Berry, . . . Confiding trust.

Willow, Weeping, . . . Forsaken love.

Woodbine, . . . Fraternal love.

THE END

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Flowers and their meanings.

The thing I’m curious about is, did the flower receiver, back in the day, have an understanding of some of these meanings? Did they have any idea that the flower giver was sharing emotions or feelings when handing them a basket of flowers?

Looking at the list of flowers in the glossary it goes to prove there is tremendous variety in flowers. The spice of life, I’d say.

Have to admit that I hadn’t heard of Ragged Lady. . . Bad housekeeping. Turns out that it’s Nigella damascena, also known as love-in-a-mist, a Buttercup Family member with spiky, fern-like foliage that makes the whole plant look unkept. The seed heads are large spiky spheres. The spike-like leaves still make the plant look kind of shaggy even after the flowers are gone. The flowers are pretty in shades of blue, pink and purple.

The Soldier in Green. . . Undying hope is a new flower for me, Adonis aestivalis, another Buttercup Family member. It seems to be more commonly called Pheasants Eye, a name that doesn’t make sense to me. Soldier in Green probably refers to the volume of upright foliage surrounding the flowers.

Rose, Multiflora. . . Grace. Yeah, for one week of the year. The rest of the time what a nuisance! It takes a number of hours clomping, sawing and digging these wild roses to get rid of them. Black raspberries would be so much more appreciated growing in that space!

Welcome back to Flower Poetry Fridays with Mrs. Sigourney, where each Friday during the past year a new poem was posted from her The Voice Of Flowers.

At the end of her 1845 book of flower appreciation, she offers a “Glossary of Flowers Mentioned in This Volume”, which will be reproduced here in three parts. Last Friday we enjoyed the first part of the flower glossary.

Today’s flowers, from E to M, is the second part of the flower glossary. Stay tuned for Part 3.

Glossary: Flowers E through M

Eglantine, . . . I wound to heal.

Fleur de lis, . . . Aristocracy.

Flowering Bean, . . . Industry.

Forget-me-not, . . . True love.

Fox-Glove, . . . Insincerity.

Geranium, . . . Gentility.

Geranium, Rose, . . . Preference.

Gladiolis, . . . Martial taste.

Grape, . . . Mirth.

Hackmetack, . . . Single blessedness.

Hare-Bell, . . . Grief.

Hawthorn, . . . Hope.

Heliotrope, . . . Devotion.

Holly, . . . Domestic happiness.

Hollyhock, . . . Ambition.

Honeysuckle, . . . Fidelity.

Honeysuckle, Trumpet, . . . Inconstancy.

Hyacinth, . . . Friendship in adversity

Hydrangia, . . . Heartlessness.

Ice-Plant, . . . An old beau.

Iris, . . . My compliments.

Ivy, . . . Wedded love.

Jessamine, . . . Amiability.

Jonquil, . . . I desire a return of affection.

Lady’s-Slipper, . . . Capricious beauty.

Larkspur, . . . Haughtiness.

Laurel, . . . I change but in dying.

Lilac, Persian, . . . An accomplished traveller.

Lilac, Purple, . . . Fastidiousness.

Lilac, White, . . . Youthful innocence.

Lily, White, . . . Purity and beauty.

Lily of the Valley, . . . Delicate simplicity.

Lobelia, . . . Malevolence.

London-Pride, . . . Frivolity.

Lupine, . . . Dejection.

Maple, . . . Reserve.

Marigold, . . . Jealousy.

Mignionette, . . . Your virtues surpass your charms.

Mimosa, . . . Sensitiveness.

Misletoe, . . . Superstition.

Monk’s-Hood, . . . Deceit.

Mourning Widow, . . . Bereavement.

Myrtle, . . . Love in absence.

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Flowers and their meanings.

According to her glossary some flowers seem fitting for a certain station in life, like White Lilac. . . Youthful innocence, Ivy. . . Wedded love, and Mourning Widow. . . Bereavement.

Others tell of the emotions we experience through many of life’s tribulations, like Monk’s-Hood. . . Deceit or Marigold. . . Jealousy.

One facet of Mrs. Sigourney’s work that I love is her characterization of the flowers that she wrote about. In her poems you can read about characters of minions – the dandelions, peasants – the violets, nobility – the rose, and royalty – the queen dahlia.

It takes real imagination and colorful words to come up with characters like these we find in her flower poetry.

Stay tuned next week for the Flower Glossary, Part 3.

Welcome back to Flower Poetry Fridays with Mrs. Sigourney, where each Friday during the past year a new poem was posted from her The Voice Of Flowers. Last Friday we enjoyed the last installment of her poems.

At the end of her 1845 book of flower appreciation, she offers a “Glossary of Flowers Mentioned in This Volume”, which will be reproduced here in three parts.

Today’s flowers, from A to D, is the first part of the flower glossary. Stay tuned for Parts 2 and 3.

Glossary: Flowers A through D

ACACIA, . . . Concealed love.

Almond, . . . Hope.

Amaranth, . . . Immortality.

Amaryllis, . . . Beautiful, but timid.

Anemone, . . . Anticipation.

Aspen, . . . Tenderness.

Aster, . . . Love of variety.

Bluebell, . . . Health.

Box, . . . Constancy.

Buttercup, . . . Riches.

Cactus Speciosissimus, . . . Perfect beauty.

Calla, . . . Magnificent beauty.

Camella, . . . Unpretending excellence.

Carnation, . . . Pride and beauty.

Cereus, . . . Long life.

Chamomile, . . . Energy in adversity.

Chrysanthemum, . . . A heart left to desolation.

Clematis, . . . Mental beauty.

Columbine, . . . Desertion.

Convolvolus, . . . Worth sustained by affection.

Cowslip, . . . Winning Grace.

Coxcomb, . . . Fashion.

Crown Imperial, . . . Pride of riches.

Cypress, . . . Despair.

Daffodil, . . . Uncertainty.

Dahlia, . . . Elegance and beauty.

Daisy, . . . Beauty and innocence.

Daisy, Mountain, . . . Meek loveliness.

Dandelion, . . . Coquetry.

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Flowers and their meanings.

Each flower produces some kind of emotion or feeling with their colors, shapes and smells.

Giving a flower to another is a gesture of that emotion from one to another. Like, red roses for love and yellow roses for friendship.

The most curious meaning attached to a flower in this part, for me, was Columbine. . . Desertion. So, who are you gonna give those flowers to?

Gotta love Coxcomb. . . Fashion and Camella. . . Unpretending excellence!

Welcome back to Flower Poetry Fridays with Mrs. Sigourney, where each Friday during the past year a new poem was posted from her The Voice Of Flowers. This installment is the last poem in the series.

FAREWELL TO THE FLOWERS.

Go to your peaceful rest,
    Friends of a brighter hour,
Jewels on youthful beauty’s breast,
    Lights of the hall and bower.
Well have ye done your part,
    Fair children of the sky,
We’ll keep your memory in our heart,
    When low in dust ye lie.

Your gladness in our joy,
    Your smile beside our way,
Your gentle service round the bed
    Of sickness and decay,
Your rainbow on the cloud,
    Your sympathy in pain ;
We’ll keep the memory of your deeds
    Until we meet again.

Rest, from the blush of love ;
    Rest, from the blight of care,
From the sweet nursing of your buds,
    And from the nipping air ;
Rest, from the fever-thirst
    Of summer’s noontide heat,
From coiling worm, and rifling hand,
    That vex’d your lone retreat.

If e’er ye thrilled with pride,
    When the admirer knelt,
Or on the lowly look’d with scorn,
    Which man for man hath felt,
If through your bosoms pure
    Hath aught like evil flow’d,
(Since folly may with angels dwell,)
    Rest from that painful load.

But not with grief or fear,
    Bow down the drooping head ;
See ! in the chamber of your birth
    Your dying couch is spread;
Go ! strong in faith, ye flowers ;
    Strong in your guileless trust,
With the returning birds, to rise
    Above imprisoning dust.

Hear we a whisper low,
    From withering leaf and bell ?
" Our life hath been a dream of love,
    In garden, or in dell ;
Yet wintry sleep we hail,
    And, till the trump shall swell,
To wake us on the vernal morn,
    Sweet friends, a sweet farewell!"

Once Autumn takes hold and brings a chill in the air our flowering friends have already begun their seasonal rest.

Isn’t it fitting that we reach the end of Mrs. Sigourney’s book by saying Farewell to the Flowers?

I know I was entertained by her characterization of our flower friends. My favorite poems were Flora’s Party and King Frost and The Garden Beauties where each flower’s true character was so well portrayed.

Spring brings the ‘fair children of the sky’ from their dusty resting places. The springing forth of flowers is truly something to look forward to after the chill and bleakness of winter.

Until then, we have our memories, and photos, of the flowers that we enjoyed so much during warmer months.

The prettiest, late-blooming plant this year for me was a new one, too. New to me, yet quite familiar.

This plant seemed so familiar, but there was something different about it. Mainly its size as it was taller than me and shrubbery-like.

The Late-Flowering Thoroughwort caught my attention partially because it attracted butterflies like crazy and partially because of its sweet scent. Photos taken 14 September 2015.

Similar-looking clusters of flowers occur in a couple of dozen related plants that bloom in late summer to early autumn in Central Pennsylvania. We’ve been able to spot three of them:

• White Snakeroot, Ageratina altissima, formerly known as Eupatorium rugosum
• Boneset, E. perfoliatum
• Late-Flowering Thoroughwort, E. serotinum

Indeed, the way to tell these similar-looking plants apart is to look at their leaves and leaf attachment, not their flowers. Unfortunately, my camera was more focused on the butterflies this day, but the first photo with the monarch shows a little of the leaf shape. Better photos showing the leaves and other plant parts will have to wait for next year.

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