The Amen of nature is always a flower.
- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. -
- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. -
Check this page on a regular basis to see what's new and in bloom in Lambert Park for 2022!
May 4, 2022 The Redstem Filaree, also called Stork's Bill is originally from the Mediterranean, but was already widely distributed in the west when it was observed by John C. Fremont in 1844. Although it can be an aggressive invader of open areas, it can also serve as good spring forage for cattle, sheep, desert tortoise, and other wildlife. Oregon Grape originated in the northwest and is the state flower of Oregon. We're glad it made all the way to Utah, as it's waxy holly-shaped leaves, and bright yellow flowers add a lushness to our landscape. Long-leaf Phlox is native to central and western America. It does well in dry, sandy soils. It's hard to classify by color, as it varies from white to pink to purple. The lemonade trees are starting to bud out! Aromatic Sumac is the most common shrub in Lambert Park. The seeds have a lemony flavor that some hikers like to add to their water bottles. The seeds will turn deep red in summer, but for now, enjoy them in their yellow finery. Danger, Danger! The native Death Camas is in bloom! Don't even think about eating a plant with the word 'death' in its name! Every part of the plant, from the bulbs to the stems, to the leaves and flowers is poisonous to humans as well as livestock! Just look at it and enjoy! There are a few strands of St. Lucie Cherries growing in Lambert Park. They are also known as Rock or Mahleb Cherries. They are ornamental natives from Europe, Asia and Africa that are cultivated for a spice obtained from the cherry pits. Birds especially love the fruit and are big seed dispersers! The Bush Pea is a beautiful purple flower, but don't let your livestock eat it! Many members of the Lathyrus family are toxic to animals, especially horses! Corn Gromwell, a soft and delicate little white flower has nothing to do with corn, but has recently graduated from invasive weed to a plant with healthy possibilities. Farmers in its native Scotland are growing it for its high concentration of omega 3-fatty acids! It does better than fish oils in this regard! A real boon for vegans around the world! Lambstongue Groundsel or Ragwort was used by settlers and ranchers to determine range “readiness.” When it was in flower, the range was believed to be sufficiently developed for grazing to begin. |
April 18, 2022
It's been a somewhat cold Spring so far and the flowers are taking their time getting here. But we have several new arrivals. The first is the Glacier Lily, which is also known as the Yellow Avalanche Lily, snow lily, and trout lily. One of the reasons it is called glacier lily is because it often can be seen growing at the edge of a retreating snow bank. As the snow melts in the spring the ground becomes very moist and this flower pops up and starts growing. Arrowleaf Balsamroot is a hearty plant that was used by native American tribes for food and medicine. It is bitter and pine-tasting. Today we can enjoy it chiefly for it's vibrant spring colors! Another new arrival is the Shortstyle Bluebell. It is found in open to lightly wooded areas and dry meadows in elevations up to 3000 meters in the mountains of the interior West in early springtime. It is common in the Wasatch and Uinta mountains of Utah. It can also be found in the southeast portions of Idaho, and scattered along southern Wyoming and western Colorado from April to June. And, of course, our annual favorite, the Dandelion, is starting to bloom again in the park (and also probably in your yard). A native of Eurasia, the dandelion has been in North American since the early 17th century when the colonists brought it over for medicine and food. |
March 24, 2022
Spring is is barely here and the park is showing its first bloom of the season. The Longstalk Springparsley is a native of the American west and can be found in Wyoming, Idaho and Utah. It is especially common in north-central Utah. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). These plants have flowers with what’s called a compound umbel structure, which is sort of like a series of successive umbrellas, ending in a bunch of little florets. Longstalk Springparsley is so small it’s hard to see the floral structure, but if you examine it closely enough, sure enough that’s how it’s set up. Curveseed Butterwort is an invader from Eurasia. Like other members of the buttercup family, it is poisonous. In addition to a pretty star-shaped flower, it grows clusters of hard, spine fruits (burs). |