Twin Flower (aka Poochki, Pushki, Indian Celery, hogweed) Linnaea borealis.  • Family: Caprifoliaceae / Honeysuckle • Habitat: Open shade, dry or moist pine forest • Height: 4-6 inch • Flower size: 1/4 inch pairs • Flower color: pink/white/cream • Edibility:  Used by Native Americans in tea

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009 - Report by

Today’s venture brought us up the Gunflint Trail stopping briefly at the Trailing Arbutus road, then Lima Mt. Road to Lima Grade and back down the Gunflint Trail.

I found it interesting to see the Trailing Arbutus at this time of the year. Apparently in the early spring they bloom off the leaves that have survived all winter and now they are sprouting new, shiny leaves.

We went to the Lima Grade to see if the Closed Gentian were blooming yet – they weren’t but we did see many Northern Green Bog Orchids. That is probably the most common orchid here. We saw a honeysuckle vine that we have seen before but have had trouble identifying it. When I got home I looked in eight flower and shrub books until the final decision was that it was a Hairy Honeysuckle (Lonicera hirsuta) and the confusing thing was that it was just hairy around the leaf margins. The other thing we looked up was Rough Cinquefoil (Potentilla norvegica) – that’s the one that has three part leaves. When you are our age you can look up the same things each year.

At this time of year there are so many flowers. These are some of the ones that pleased me: Pink Pyrola, One-sided Pyrola – lots of Tall Meadow Rue and Cow Parsnip (read an article about parsnip). Probably the flower that pleased me most were the lovely displays of Linnea (Twin-flower) amidst rocks, roots and moss.

Late lunch as usual – at Swamper.