Virginia Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum)

I created our wooded area many years ago. I have been transplanting from plant rescues and native plant sales, but this one came on its own.

Virginia waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum).

Although often considered a weed, it is a native plant and a godsend for our early pollinators looking for nectar. It grows almost anywhere. So don’t be too eager to get rid of this rather aggressive native plant.

Phenology

Do you keep a history of when your plants bloom? I prefer to take photos, but many people write and/or draw in a journal or enter data in a log. Keeping this kind of history is called phenology.

“Phenology is the study of the timing of the life-cycle events in plants and animals: flowering, leafing, hibernation, reproduction, and migration. Scientists who study phenology are interested in the timing of such events in relation to changes in season and climate.” (Budburst)

I find it interesting to see how the seasonal variations in our climate affect the blossoming of our plants, trees, and shrubs. If you don’t currently track the blooming times of your native plants, give it a try. You will be surprised by what the data shows you.

Note: If you’d rather use the Internet instead of creating your own history, go to  Budburst and become one of their citizen scientists.