Enchantment of
Wild Flowers
Mia Surakka
When I moved from Finland to Ithaca NY with my husband, one of my interests
was how close to nature our place of residence will be. Nature and roaming
in forests have always been a very important part of my life and I prefer to
live in places, where recreation areas are easy to access.
My mother used to walk with me in the forests and meadows. She taught me how
to recognize various plants. She was, and still is very fond of flowers,
herbs and everything related to nature and her yard is blossoming during
summer time. For many years I have sent her seeds of different flowers,
joking that she could urge even a broomstick come into flower. When I called
her and asked her to count the plants growing around her house, she counted
almost two hundred different species.
I am grateful to my mother for sharing her enthusiasm. She has inspired me
in many ways. I have just finished writing of my compilation of short
stories, which includes flower symbolism and Victorian-era folklore known as
“flower language” as an important part of narration.
My husband and I were lucky to meet Mark De Cracker, a resident of Lyons and
the proprietor of Peppermint Cottage Bed and Breakfast, when we rented his
cottage for our first anniversary day. Mark is nature and wild flower lover,
and his passion is to show people how beautiful and enchanting nature can
be. He wants to motivate children to walk in forests with their parents
instead of watching television and playing video games. I respect Mark’s
sublime mission and I really think he is doing a great job.
Mark told us that Wayne County´s wild flowers are blossoming from April to
beginning of June. He invited us to walk with him and his daughter Hannah
through his favourite forest at the beginning of May. Mark also videotaped
our walk and made a little interview of our experiences.
Our wildflower walk was an exhilarating and aesthetic experience. When we
entered the forest, I noticed it was somehow grove like, lighter and
brighter green than the Finnish forests, which are mainly shady coniferous
forests.
Our guide knew well, what to seek. At the beginning of the path Mark found
immediately Bloodroot (Sanguinarea Canadensis). It is a white petaled
flower with a bright yellow center. Mark showed
us, how cut Bloodroot “bleeds” reddish juice. Bloodroot was used by the
American Indians as body paint, as a fabric dye and as herbal remedy.
Close to the Bloodroot grew Wild Ginger (Asarum
canadense) which is not related to ginger, even though its
rhizomes smell and taste similar. Wild Gingers flowers are
curious and attractive purple jugs hiding close to the ground under the
big leaves. The flowers completely escaped our attention before Mark pointed
those out. Also a small and delicate pink Spring Beauty required a beady eye
to be found.
