Trifolium pratense, red clover, is a herbaceous species of flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae, native to Europe, Western Asia, and northwest Africa, but planted and naturalized in many other regions.
Interesting Facts:
Red clover is a good pollen and nectar source for bumblebees.
Red clover’s flowers and leaves are edible, and can be added as garnishes to any dish.They can be ground into a flour.
The flowers often are used to make jelly and tisanes, and are used in essiac recipes. Their essential oil may be extracted and its unique scent used in aromatherapy.
It is widely grown as a fodder crop, valued for its nitrogen fixation, which increases soil fertility. For these reasons, it is used as a green manure crop.
Slender Vervain is a perennial that spreads by rhizomes and is native to South America. Is an annual north of zone 7 but needs winter protection in that zone. It has naturalized from southeastern North Carolina to Florida and is very tolerant of heat and drought.
These Verbena rigida are in the garden in front of The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium in Gastonia, North Carolina.
Petunia axillaris, the large white petunia, AKA: wild white petunia or white moon petunia, is an annual herbaceous plant in the family Solanaceae, genus Petunia.
Rubus idaeus ‘Caroline’ (Everbearing Raspberry) is a fall-fruit big cultivar producing high yields of large, highly flavored, red raspberries which are perfect for eating or preserves.
Raspberry plants can fruit on different types of canes, and these are categorized into primocane and floricane. Both primocane (first year) fruiting and floricane (second year) fruiting raspberries have both primocanes and floricanes growing from the plant after the first year.
Primocane fruiting raspberries, commonly called Everbearing raspberries, produce flowers and fruit on first year canes. Primocane varieties will produce a moderate crop in June and a much larger crop from late August until frost.
Erigeron annuus (formerly Aster annuus), AKA the annual fleabane, daisy fleabaneEastern Daisy fleabane is a species of herbaceous, annual or biennial floweringplant in the family Asteraceae.
Crocosmia aurea, common names falling stars, Valentine flower, or montbretia, is a perennial flowering plant belonging to the family Iridaceae. Crocosmia’s flowers are brilliantly colored and showy, making them a wonderful choice for flower arrangements. Sometimes called Montbretia, the tubular-shaped flowers are extremely attractive to hummingbirds. The brilliant red yellow or orange blooms appear in May or June with sword-shaped foliage.
Ice on trees Tall Bearded Iris ‘Earl of Essex’ (Iris)Marantha Siberian IrisIris pseudacorus, AKA the yellow flag, yellow iris, or water flagColeman Pointing with his Left Index Finger
Echinacea Sombrero Salsa Red displays single rows of drooping, deep orange-red ray petals around a sombrero-shaped, orange-brown cone. The lightly fragrant flowers attract butterflies! They provide long lasting color in the garden.
Echinacea Sombrero Salsa Red Coneflower
These are reded daisy-like flowers with dark cones and are produced on strong, well branched stems. Echinacea is well known for its large, daisy-like flowers. It is a bold, sturdy perennial sporting flowers with a large cone-shaped center, hence its common name of Coneflower.
It is also known by African Arrowroot, Arrowroot, Canna, Edible Canna, and Wild Canna Lily among a few other names.
The rhizomes of cannas are rich in starch, and have many uses in agriculture. All of the plant material has commercial value, rhizomes for starch (consumption by humans and livestock), stems and foliage for animal fodder, young shoots as a vegetable, and young seeds as an addition to tortillas.
Other interesting usesincludethe hard black seeds of the Arrowroot having been used in the 19th century as bullets when ammunition was limited. The seeds are also used for making jewelry and musical instruments such as rattles.
Children aside, do you celebrate your birthday/anniversary or is it just a normal day for you?
For me, my birthday is just an ordinary normal day. It is not recognized by my children. Oh, I wish and long for acknowledgement, but henceforth it does not come and by nightfall I am disappointed.
Do/did you always give your child a birthday party when they were young?
I did not always give my children a birthday party. However, when I did it was usually just with family including cousins.
If your child was born on Christmas Day (or a few days either side of the 25th), did they have a ‘half birthday’ in June, two presents/celebrations, or something else?
None of my children were born near Christmas, but I do have a good friend and an “old” neighbor who was born the day after Christmas. If I remember right, and I might not, his parents tried to make his birthday special & not just combine his birthday with Christmas.
I do have a daughter that was born on “traditional” Memorial Day (traditional meaning before they made it always on a Monday). We tended to celebrate her birthday with the patriotic theme of red, white, and blue.
Would you prefer to give your child a party, or take them and a few friends on a special outing?
A party is nice, but also a lot of work and expense. When my children weren’t so young, I took them out to a restaurant of their choosing. I remember, in my teen years, my parents took me out for my birthday at the restaurant of my choice with cake and present(s) at home afterward.
A Red Rose Bud for my birthday (Not really my rose, but I can dream) Photo Credit: (c)Deb L. Waters
As a side note, today’s my birthday. I spent the day with my grandson, Coleman (But then again, I usually do). We took the city transit bus into downtown. His first time on a bus ride. First time for both of us in this area (we only moved here in February). We rode the bus downtown and then walked a short distance and hiked the Highland Rail Trail. (He loves to go hiking). The paved trail was just 1.8 miles in length one way. We stopped shy of the end of the trail and walked back to the bus station to wait for the bus to return home. (Coleman was ready to go.) After my daughter got home, she insisted on us going out to eat for my birthday. We hadn’t done that in over three years. We went to a new to us restaurant called Noodles & Company. World Kitchen. It serves many different times of noodle dishes. Italian, Asian, Vegan, and more. I had the Zucchini Pesto with Grilled Chicken. It was delicious. My grandson had the kids grilled chicken, but he was too antsy to sit still and eat. (He fell asleep shortly after we got back home). I did very much appreciate her thoughtfulness. My sons couldn’t bother with acknowledging my birthday. I am thankful for my online friends new and old who sent their birthday greetings. No body wants to be forgotten on their birthday even if they don’t care for celebrations.
Clematis viticella, the Italian leather flower, purple clematis, or Virgin’s bower, is a species of flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae, native to EuropeShades of Purple in a Garden PlanterSalvia officinalis, the common sage or just sage, is a perennial, with blue to purplish flowers. Sisyrinchium angustifolium, commonly known as narrow-leaf blue-eyed-grass Viola × williamsii, known as hybrid horned pansy, tufted pansy, or just horned pansy
View from our picnic table Notice the Visitor Shot on Canon while Coleman snacked Eastern Carpenter Bee on Digitalis purpurea ‘Dalmatian Purple’ Foxglove Earliest blooming of all Foxglove.
(Calopogon tuberosus var. simpsonii) This gorgeous wildflower is called grass pink and it is in the Orchid family (Orchidaceae). The genus name “Calopogon” is Greek and means “beautiful beard.” It refers to the hairlike structures on the upper petal. It has a bulb-like corm that resembles a tuber, hence the name “tuberosus.” The slender grass-like leaves give rise to the name “grass pink.” It is a stunning wildflower.
Common Sunflower Helianthus giganteus, the giant sunflower or tall sunflowerSwamp Sunflower Helianthus angustifoliusI’m Grateful for you crosscards.com
Lavender & Meadow SageMeadow Sage Salvia x sylvestrisLavender ‘May Night’ Sage
These Lavender & Sage plants and flowers are within the Memorial Garden which you can find along the Nature Trail at The Schiele Museum located in Gastonia, North Carolina.
Odontocidium, is the nothogenus comprising intergeneric hybrids of the two orchid genera Odontoglossum and Oncidium. Some refer to this orchid as a “Bacon Orchid.” The petals look similar to hanging bacon.
Glencairn Gardens is located in Rock Hill, South Carolina. It was started by David & Hazel Bigger in their backyard. It is now an 11 acre paradise located in the heart of Rock Hill. It is beautifully landscaped with walkways, lawns, fountains, as well as various plants and flowers. Mrs. Bigger deeded the garden to the city of Rock Hill after her husband’s passing in 1958.
Come See Me Festival Fountain
The Garden was the original inspiration for Rock Hill’s annual Come See Me Festival. The festival has developed into a ten day event which is held each spring at Glencairn Gardens and various other sites throughout Rock Hill.
The Garden boasts a variety of blooms year round. They vary from Dogwoods and Wisteria to Azaleas and Camellias along with a variety of hardwood trees to be adorned by visitors strolling throughout the Gardens.
Circle of Friends
The peak blooming season is from late March to early April. With such a small window to observe and admire the various spectacular colors & the many different types of flowers in bloom — you wouldn’t want to miss visiting it. Don’t worry if you can’t make it during peak season, there is always something special to see year round. Some of which are the Crepe Myrtles and Day Lilies during the Summer, the changing of leave’s colors in Autumn. And lest you forget, there’s the daffodils and camellias, and the smell of honeysuckle to entice your senses throughout the winter.
Within Glencairn Gardens is also a Veterans Garden. The American Legion Post 34 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2889 partnered with the City of Rock Hill to create this hard that honors men and women from the past, present, and future who serve in the armed forces of the United States of America.
Phalaenopsis – Moth Orchid – Double Spike Orchid (Cymbidium) Neoregelia carolinae, the blushing bromeliad, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Neoregelia.Orchid Cambria Odontoglossum ‘Francine’ Pink
Eastern Tree Caterpillar nests are commonly found on wild cherry, apple, and crab apple, but may be found on hawthorn, maple, cherry, peach, pear and plum as well. There is one generation of the Eastern tent caterpillar per year. The insects overwinter as egg masses on twigs, and they hatch in April. They turn into moths which are reddish-brown with two pale stripes running diagonally across each forewing. Photinia ‘ Red Robin ‘ P x fraseri also known as the Christmas Berry makes an attractive hedging plant with its glossy red new growth. Wisteria sinensis ‘Cooke’s Purple’Hally Jolivette Cherry (Prunus) is one of the best flower ornamental cherry trees available.
Cordyline Fruticosa Ti Plant Cordyline fruticosa is an evergreen flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae. It is identified by a wide variety of common names, including ti plant, palm lily, cabbage palm.
My grandson and myself saw many beautiful plant and flowers while we had a short visit (short due to rain) to Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens in Belmont, North Carolina. This photo was taken with my iPhone 14 Pro Max at f/1.8 •1/57 • 6.86mm • ISO 250.
Pink Carnations Loropetalum chinense is commonly known loropetalum, Chinese Fringe Flower and Strap FlowerFlowers on an Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) Pink RosePink for Breast Cancer No one should FIGHT ALONE Til Valhalla Project No Hero Left Behind
Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography 