I love Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) because it is so inconspicuous that you have to go look for it.
It is also called Eastern spring beauty, narrow leaf spring beauty, and fairy spud. Its name honors Colonial Virginia botanist John Clayton (1694-1773).
You better look closely for the individual flowers bloom for three days. The five stamens on each flower
are only active for a single day. Now how do you figure that out.
Claytonia virginica
Prim pink pinstripes
beckon from the wet soil
beside the creek. But like
most beauties, they're choosy
about their suitors,
unmoved except by just
the right bee visiting
in just the right order:
one day they hokey-
poke their stamens out;
the next, it's the pistel's turn.
Petals close even for a cloud.
And when flowering's done,
they do their best
to pass for grass.
Who wouldn't be wary
with such a large
& edible heart?
Jennifer Schlick
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