March 24
Sweet Betsy (Trillium
cuneatum)
Green and
Gold (Chrysogonum virginianum)
This
pencil-stemmed wildflower comes up in early spring. It is a
perennial plant, but may take four or more years to bloom
when grown from seed. It dies back each summer. However,
Green and Gold is evergreen, blooming intermittently for
nine more months. Green and Gold has soft fuzzy hairs on
stems and leaves—leaves that are as soft as a little
bunny’s ears.
Ground clutter in the painting tells us that these plants
are under a maple whose fruits consist of two red wings
(samaras); each wing has one seed. When the maple gets
bigger, there could be too much shade for the Green and
Gold. The matted maple leaves will further reduce the
sunlight. Green and Gold may then disappear from this
location, but will be discovered in a place with more sun.
The Sweet Betsy will enjoy the shade of the larger maple,
but may also find a more acidic spot under a beech tree.
Both plants will choose a well drained location.
As trees grow or fall, the woodland landscape evolves. We
bid a sad farewell to a favorite plant in a location but
delight in new discoveries there.
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