Dame's Rockets are blooming throughout the woods. It rained this morning so I grabbed my camera and headed to the park to photograph those lovely flowers before the clouds dissipated. Too bad I couldn't record their slightly spicy, slightly sweet fragrance also. It was so lovely walking along the park's paths. Singing birds, beautiful, fragrant flowers, the distant roar of the dams, all contributed to a totally sensory experience.Most people are confused about Dame's Rockets. Most think they are an early form of garden phlox. Dame's Rocket is Hesperis matronalis, a member of the mustard family. Phlox is Phlox paniculata. Dame's Rocket has four petals as opposed to phlox's five petals. The leaves are much different also. Dame's Rocket was introduced to North America from Europe during colonial times. It was grown for the "beauty of it's floures" and also for it's herbal value as a fever breaker. Dame's Rocket is invasive and is listed as a noxious weed by the USDA.
1 comment:
OMG you just answered one of my burning questions because I have this in my yard and I had no idea what it was. And, get this- I planted it! Anyway, it literally shoots up before all else and its blooms are in full glory at this very moment. It seems to be spreading a good deal, too- and that's fine by me. *I never thought about the phlox angle.. I have lots of phlox, too- it's fast becoming my favorite summer plant- always looks great and the foliage is always perfect looking.
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