This spring, I was able to photograph two wildflowers – Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra Cucullaria) and Squirrel Corn (Dicentra Canadensis) – that are closely related to the Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra Spectabilis) I photographed at Brookside Gardens.
The first set of Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra Cucullaria) I found were at the National Arboretum in Washington, DC. There were several Dutchman’s Breeches plants in the Fern Valley area of the Arboretum.
(c) 2008 Patty Hankins
The plant gets its name from the flowers, which look like men’s pants hanging upside down from a laundry line.
(c) 2008 Patty Hankins
About a week later, I was at Great Falls National Park in Virginia. On the path heading down to the water between the second and third overlook, I found some Dutchman’s Breeches growing along the side of the trail.
(c) 2008 Patty Hankins
Dutchman’s Breeches are a native plant growing in both woods and in clearings. The plants grow to about 12″ tall, with spurred heart/triangle shaped petals about 5/8″ of an inch in size. The petals grow in groups of 4 to 12 hanging from the raceme. They usually bloom in April and May.
(c) 2008 Patty Hankins
When I was in Tennessee for the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, I was able to photograph some Squirrel Corn (Dicentra Candadensis). The Squirrel Corn I saw was along the Cove Hardwood Trail, which begins at the parking lot of the Chimneys Picnic Area.
(c) 2008 Patty Hankins
Like Dutchman’s Breeches, Squirrel Corn grows to about 12″ tall and blooms in April and May. The flowers are about 1/2″ long, heart/oval shaped growing in clusters on the raceme. The plant gets its name from the corms (underground plant stems) – which are shaped like sweet corn kernels. Apparently squirrels like to dig up the corms and eat them.
I’ve really enjoyed photographing the wildflowers this year – and discovering which of the wildflowers are related to one another and to some of flowers being cultivated in gardens.