I found them

I heard about sweetfern flowers from a naturalist friend. She said the plants could be male, female, or both. We have a lot of sweetfern on our property, so I was on the lookout for these minuscule flowers. I didn’t see any for days, even while walking along the driveway which is lined with sweetfern. I thought the season was over.

Yesterday I saw them! Just a few, in sunlight. The light highlighted their brilliant color, making them easier to spot. They flower a lot like a hazelnut.

Sweetfern are not ferns. They are knee-high shrubs with long reptilian-looking leaves that give off a sweet scent when crushed. They are one of my favorite native plants. They grow vigorously here. The leaves make great botanical prints. I’ve heard they make a good tea although I’ve never tried it.

Next I’ll try to notice their minuscule nutlets – at harvest time.