Dr. Peggy Lee previews wonders of spring beauty found on Elkhart Hill

 

[April 05, 2019] 

The wildflower walks on Elkhart hill begin this weekend and will occur each Saturday throughout the month of April. During those events, visitors can explore the hill and look for the many wildflowers that grow and bloom in the early spring in central Illinois.

As a precursor to the wildflower walks, on Monday, March 25th Dr. Peggy Lee of Elkhart offered two presentations on the wildflowers of Illinois. Lee serves on the Elkhart Village Board and is also as a Master Naturalist. The first presentation was given in the morning to the members of the Logan County Master Gardeners. The second presentation was given in the afternoon at the Oasis Senior Center.

Lee’s presentation includes slideshow photos of the various wildflowers that grow throughout the state, many of which also grow on Elkhart Hill. She laced her slideshow with commentary, poetry and music. She also spoke about the folklore behind some of the plants as well as the medicinal purposes and food value of particular plants and the power of the flowers to predict the weather.

Dutchman’s breeches

The Dutchman’s breeches is a small white and yellow flower that looks like a pair of pants. The flower is pollinated by the queen bumble bee and its seeds are spread by ants. Lee included the reading of a poem that likened the flower to the “panties” of the fairies.

The flower is toxic to animals and can have a drug like effect on people. Therefore, the plant is often also referred to as “Stagger Weed” as it impacts the body in a fashion similar to morphine.

Folklore also says that the reason butter is yellow is because the cows ate the buttercups. It is also said that when the flower is held to the chin, if the yellow of the boom transfers to the skin that is an indication that the person loves to eat butter.

Buttercups

The buttercup is also sometimes called “fair gold” for its color. It has “itchy greens” and a bitter taste. The little plants will grow just about anywhere. They are often related to personality traits such as humility, neatness and child-likeness.

May apples

May apples pop up in the spring and bloom for a week or two but remain green all summer long. The plant is both edible and poisonous. The fruit that is produced in the early fall is edible and the size of a small lemon. The greens however are poisonous.

The greens of the plant have also been harvested for sale to pharmaceutical use as it will induce vomiting and also has laxative values.

Purple Trillium

Purple Trillium is on the endanger plant species list in Illinois. This plant blooms from mid-April to May and lives on Elkhart Hill.

Spring beauty

The spring beauty is a white flower with pink variegations or stripes in the pedals that make it look pink. This is also an interesting plant in that the stamens are pink.

Blood root

Blood root is a white poppy like flower that gets its name for the deep red sap that comes from the root of the plant. It was commonly used as Indian face paint in olden days. The plant also has many medicinal uses including as cough medicine and treatment for ulcers, skin infections and ring worm. The plant also has value as an insecticide.

Yellow Woodland Violet

This flower grows on Elkhart Hill and it is the state flower of Illinois, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Wisconsin.

The plant is used for perfume, and has been the subject of poems.

The plants bloom from April to Mid-May

Sweet William

Sweet William and the Black-eyed Susan are a “couple.”

A folk story about the two is displayed in a poem about Susan searching for her beloved William. “Tell me true, is my Sweet William there with you?”

Sweet William is also related to the personality trait gallantry.

Wild ginger

Lee read a story about a young girl and her Aunt Beth who made their way up the hill looking for the wild ginger. The trip was made in the spring when the plant was starting out. However, the roots could not be harvested until fall, so the pair would stake the plants for a return in the fall to dig up the roots.

The story went on to talk about the anticipation of the little girl for the day the root would be dug up and the house would fill with the smell of gingerbread made from the root, how the little child’s mouth would water in anticipation and she would eat much more than she should have.

The story also noted the fine details of the plant, such as the fact that the blooms come out under the leaves, staying close to the ground. The blooms according to Aunt Beth are on the ground because they are pollinated by ants.

Blue bells

Lee noted that of all the wildflowers, blue bells are her favorite. These lovely flowers with their heads hanging down grow in masses on Elkhart Hill creating a sea of blue in a woodland landscape that is awe inspiring.

Folklore says that it is unlucky to step on a blue bell, pick or bring it in the house. The plants are to remain wild and free on the hillside.

Lee played a song – Virginia blue bell, written by Miranda Lambert and sang by Adam Marcus. The song speaks to the head hanging down the “pretty little thing…” and encourages “sometimes you’ve got to look up and let the world see the beauty you are made of.”

In addition to the blue blue bell, Lee explained that there are blue bells that for ease of explanation are albino. She noted that these are the rare clumps that lack pigmentation, so they bloom white. Lee said one in 10,000 plants lack this pigmentation, and Elkhart Hill has the albino blue bells growing in its woodland.
There are many, many wildflowers that grow indigenously in Illinois and on Elkhart Hill. This article represents only a slice of what Lee presented and her presentation also was a slice of what can be found in nature here in Logan County.

Lee encouraged her guests to get out this spring and enjoy the wildflowers, especially those on Elkhart Hill.

Wildflower walks begin this Saturday and are scheduled for the next four Saturdays. Guided tours are given at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. There is a fee for the tours and a reduced price for children ages eight to 12 years old. For those who work up an appetite a lunch time special is also offered at the Wild Hare Café.

On April 27th in addition to the scheduled wildflower walks there will be a special bird walk at 6 a.m. and again at 4 p.m.

The weekly walks are sponsored by the Elkhart Historical Society and the fees paid go to support the society. Anyone who is interested in reserving a spot at one of the walks is encouraged to call 217-947-2238 for further details and registration information.

For those attending the walks, the starting point is the Country Bumpkin, 103 Governor Oglesby Street in Elkhart. Please arrive at least 20 minutes before the scheduled tour.

[Nila Smith]