Appendaged Waterleaf...the Happy Mother's Day flower!

Back on May 9, 2009, I posted a letter from a young Tufted Titmouse to her Mama on Mother's Day. In her letter, she mentions "charming little lavender flowers" growing at the base of the tree she and her mate had chosen to make their home. Yesterday when I took my walk along the Little Miami, her tree was still there and so too were her lavender flowers, Appendaged Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum appendiculatum). Unfortunately, Mama and Papa Titmouse chose other lodgings this year, but I thought we could have a look at the beautiful spring wildflowers she loved...

Appendaged Waterleaf, Hydrophyllum appendiculatum, in all its lavender splendor!

...the delicate papery petals of Hydrophyllum appendiculatum are a soothing blue-lavender color and often seem to glow softly in the lush green of spring.

...did I mention Appendaged Waterleaf is quite hairy?

...each blossom is about a half-inch and forms a graceful, fluted bell. The five stamens extend from the bell. You can still see pollen clinging to the anthers of the blossom on the right.

Hydrophyllum appendiculatum's leaves are Maple leaf-like and often have white spots on them resembling water spots, which is the reason for its name, Waterleaf.

Although Mama and Papa Titmouse were absent from their tree this year, a young Squirrel Nutkin was making good use of it by climbing up and down the trunk...until he realized I was there and then took off in a frenzied terror (no doubt to the comfort of his mama) through the waterleaf patch, causing the flowers to sway gently on their long stalks as he passed through them.

Happy Mother's Day!

(especially to you, Mom!)

A Letter From a Young Tufted Titmouse to her Mama on Mother’s Day

Dear Mama,
I wish you could see our new nesting cavity. It’s in a lovely old tree growing at the foot of a dark, shaded hillside. I can hear the river flowing past, as it’s just a short flight across a little foot trail. A small brook cascades down rocks in our backyard. Little pools form among the rocks, and we go there to drink and splash around a bit. It’s a cozy little homey-home with an adorable moss-covered entryway. Virginia Creeper is climbing up the right side of the trunk and looks very pretty. When I’m away hunting down caterpillars for the babies (an endless job, mom! How did you do it?), a sweet Wood Thrush who lives about 20 feet away serenades the little ones with his beautiful, flute-like tones. Everywhere I look I see beauty. Charming little lavender flowers are at the base of our trunk growing in the dark, moist soil. Although I did all the brooding, my mate is very helpful and forages for insects and feeds the babies too. He is a very good father! Well, I had better get back to foraging. The caterpillars are plump and juicy this year. I think the babies like the bright green wiggly ones the best.
Happy Mother’s Day, mom! I love you…

Little Mama Titmouse

...and Happy Mother's Day to all the

mamas out there, especially you, mom!