Bluebells blooming in the sodden wet places

Virginia bluebells is the more commonly used folk name for Mertensia virginica the pale blue flower now in bloom at the nature center.

That’s fortunate because this lovely thing is also known as Virginia cowslip, a reference to the wet and muddy places that cows like to slop around in near water; literally cow+slip or cow+slop, i.e. cow dung.

Water plus mud plus dung would create a rich place for a plant to grow but I could hardly think of a more unfortunate name to go by.

“Hello. I’m Virginia cowslop. How are you?”

Nevertheless, this delightful blue wildflower is often found in wet, damp lowlands near water. Look for it near the Visitor Center and downstream from the Ijams Family pond along the Discovery Trail.

- Text and photo by Stephen Lyn Bales