Sightings – Flowers
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 6/2/11
Observation Time: 1:05 p.m.
Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road near soccer field parking lot
Common Name: Star of Bethlehem
Scientific Name: Ornithogalum umbellatum
Comments: The Star of Bethlehem is a genus (Ornithogalum) of perennial plants native to southern Europe belonging to the family Hyacinthaceae. Growing from a bulb, it has grass-like basal leaves and a slender stalk, up to 30 cm tall, bearing clusters of star-shaped white flowers striped with green.
More Information: Illinois Wildflowers
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/13/23
Observation Time: 8:00 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Starflower
Scientific Name: Lysimachia borealis
Comments: Formerly known as Trientalis borealis, it has been shuffled around to new species name Lysimachia borealis (same genus as the yellow Loosestrifes) and moved to the Myrsinaceae (Myrsine) family. This member of the primrose family likes moist woods. It blooms in May.
Please do not dig up native wildflowers. They typically do not survive transplantation.
More Information: Minnesota Wildflowers
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/14/11
Observation Time: 2:05 p.m.
Observation Location: Town conservation land near Beaver Brook
Common Name: Starflower
Scientific Name: Trientalis borealis
Comments: This member of the primrose family likes moist woods. It blooms in May. Please do not dig up native wildflowers. They typically do not survive transplantation.
More Information: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/14/25
Observation Time: 10:55 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Starflower
Scientific Name: Lysimachia borealis
Comments: Formerly known as Trientalis borealis, it has been shuffled around to new species name Lysimachia borealis (same genus as the yellow Loosestrifes) and moved to the Myrsinaceae (Myrsine) family. This member of the primrose family likes moist woods. It blooms in May.
Please do not dig up native wildflowers. They typically do not survive transplantation.
More Information: Minnesota Wildflowers
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/19/19
Observation Time: 2:35 p.m.
Observation Location: Billings Loop Botanical Trail
Common Name: Starflower
Scientific Name: Lysimachia borealis
Comments: Formerly known as Trientalis borealis, it has been shuffled around to new species name Lysimachia borealis (same genus as the yellow Loosestrifes) and moved to the Myrsinaceae (Myrsine) family. This member of the primrose family likes moist woods. It blooms in May. Please do not dig up native wildflowers. They typically do not survive transplantation.
More Information: Minnesota Wildflowers
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/22/18
Observation Time: 9:35 a.m.
Observation Location: Town conservation land near Beaver Brook
Common Name: Starflower
Scientific Name: Trientalis borealis
Comments: This member of the primrose family likes moist woods. It blooms in May. Please do not dig up native wildflowers. They typically do not survive transplantation.
More Information: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/27/20
Observation Time: 5:10 p.m.
Observation Location: near footbridge over Beaver Brook
Common Name: Starflower
Scientific Name: Lysimachia borealis
Comments: Formerly known as Trientalis borealis, it has been shuffled around to new species name Lysimachia borealis (same genus as the yellow Loosestrifes) and moved to the Myrsinaceae (Myrsine) family. This member of the primrose family likes moist woods. It blooms in May.
Please do not dig up native wildflowers. They typically do not survive transplantation.
More Information: Minnesota Wildflowers
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 6/24/10
Observation Time: 3:25 p.m.
Observation Location: Beaver Brook near tennis courts
Common Name: Swamp azalea
Scientific Name: Rhododendron viscosum
Comments: This typical wetland shrub is sometimes called the Clammy Azalea because of its very sticky corolla. The species name means sticky in Latin. The flowers appear after the leaves.
More Information: University of Texas
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 9/22/11
Observation Time: 3:25 p.m.
Observation Location: field near Gavins Pond
Common Name: Sweet Everlasting or Rabbit Tobacco
Scientific Name: Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
Comments: This wildflower is a member of a group of daisy-family herbs called cudweeds. Heads never open wider than this.
More Information: Wildflowers of the Southeastern US
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 7/31/10
Observation Time: 10:40 a.m.
Observation Location: Beaver Brook near tennis courts
Common Name: Sweet Pepperbush (Summersweet)
Scientific Name: Clethra alnifolia
Comments: Very fragrant.
More Information: Virginia Native Plant Society
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 6/21/25
Observation Time: 5:11 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR)
Common Name: Tall Meadow Rue
Scientific Name: Thalictrum pubescens
Comments: Meadow rue flowers have no petals; the conspicuous part of the flower is the white filaments of the stamens.
More Information: Connecticut Botanical Society
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 6/24/21
Observation Time: 3:55 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR)
Common Name: Tall Meadow Rue
Scientific Name: Thalictrum pubescens
Comments: Meadow rue flowers have no petals; the conspicuous part of the flower is the white filaments of the stamens.
More Information: Connecticut Botanical Society
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 7/7/18
Observation Time: 3:10 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR)
Common Name: Tall Meadow Rue
Scientific Name:Thalictrum pubescens
Comments: Meadow rue flowers have no petals; the conspicuous part of the flower is the white filaments of the stamens.
More Information: Connecticut Botanical Society
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 8/23/15
Observation Time: 5:45 p.m.
Observation Location: bank of Hammershop Pond at Ames and Cottage Streets.
Common Name: Virginia Marsh-St. John’s wort
Scientific Name: Triadenum virginicum
Comments: Occurs only in wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: OBL).
Please do not dig up wildflowers!
More Information: Go Botany
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 4/25/23
Observation Time: 8:15 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary (bluff overlook)
Common Name: Virginia saxifrage
Scientific Name: Micranthes virginiensis
Comments: The characteristic features of saxifrage are consistent with its alpine provenance and consequent tenacity. A rosette of basal toothed leaves huddle on a rocky substrate to hold fast in the boreal winds that prevail in typical mountain habitats. Saxifrages are perennial and therefore retain their foliage, which turns red in winter due to the production of protective anthocyanin, regaining photosynthetic function and its attendant verdant hues that mark the advent of spring. The hardiness of the early saxifrage is evident in the near soilless niche habitat that it occupies with only lichens for competition.
I spotted this blooming specimen growing near a granite outcrop at the top of a cliff.
More Information: Hiker’s Notebook
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 6/6/11
Observation Time: 1:15 p.m.
Observation Location: bank of Beaver Brook (near tennis courts)
Common Name: Water Forget-Me-Not
Scientific Name: Myosotis scorpioides
Comments: Water forget-me-nots are usually found in damp or wet habitats, such as bogs, ponds, streams, ditches, fen and rivers. While it favors wet ground, it can survive submerged in water, and often can form floating rafts.
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 9/12/09
Observation Time: 11:30 a.m.
Observation Location: Gavins Pond (near the dam)
Common Name: Water Lily
Scientific Name: Nymphaea odorata
Comments: It usually flowers only from early morning until noon. The black specks in the first photo might be black aphids.
More Information: The University of Texas at Austin
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 7/13/13
Observation Time: 11:30 a.m.
Observation Location: Gavins Pond
Common Name: Water Shield
Scientific Name: Brasenia schreberi
Comments: Leaf floats like a water lily, but the stem is attached in middle.
More Information: USDA Forest Service
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 8/24/09
Observation Time: 12:30 p.m.
Observation Location: Margin of wetland behind Hunter’s Ridge
Common Name: White Baneberry (a.k.a. “Doll’s Eyes”)
Scientific Name: Actaea pachypoda
Comments: Needs continuously damp soil. Seeds, which are highly toxic, were once used as eyes for rag dolls.
More Information: Dave’s Garden
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 9/9/12
Observation Time: 3:15 p.m.
Observation Location: Sandy Ridge Circle
Common Name: White Baneberry, or Doll’s Eyes
Scientific Name: Actaea pachypoda
Comments: Both the berries and the entire plant are considered poisonous to humans. The berries contain cardiogenic toxins which can have an immediate sedative effect on human cardiac muscle tissue, and are the most poisonous part of the plant. Ingestion of the berries can lead to cardiac arrest and death.
The berries are harmless to birds, the plant’s primary seed dispersers.
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/14/25
Observation Time: 3:30 p.m.
Observation Location: under power lines across the street from Ward’s Berry Farm
Common Name: White Bog Violet
Scientific Name: Viola lanceolata
Comments: Viola lanceolata can be found growing in bogs, swamps, wet meadows and along shores in sandy soil. It is a perennial plant that blooms between May and June.
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 8/18/20
Observation Time: 11:50 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (formerly the Kendall Estate)
Common Name: White Vervain
Scientific Name: Verbena urticifolia
Comments: I initially identified this plant using a cool app called Seek. Normally white vervain has green leaves, so I sent my photo of this red-leaved specimen to a botanist, who verified that it is indeed white vervain.
The name vervain is derived from the Celtic ferfaen, that is from fer (to drive away) and from faen (a stone). In early times the plant was used for afflictions of the bladder, such as kidney stones. The species name, urticifolia, means it has nettle-like leaves.
More Information: Friends of the Wildflower Garden
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 10/6/19
Observation Time: 2:00 p.m.
Observation Location: Near Beaver Brook
Common Name: White Wood Aster
Scientific Name: Eurybia divaricata
Comments: Eurybia divaricata is native to Eastern U.S. and typically grows in the wild in dry open woods. It grows in loose clumps with dark, sprawling, sometimes zigzag stems up to 2.5′ tall. Distinctive leaves are heart-shaped, stalked and coarsely toothed. Small but abundant flowers (to 1 inch across) have white rays and yellow to red center disks and appear in flat-topped, terminal clusters in late summer to early fall. Attractive to butterflies.
More information: Missouri Botanical Gardens
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 6/14/09
Observation Time: 11:30 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm, Trustees of Reservations land
Common Name: Whorled Loosestrife
Scientific Name: Lysimachia quadrifolia
More Information: Wild Flowers of Sleepy Hollow Lake
3 Whorls:
4 Whorls:
5 Whorls:
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 9/4/20
Observation Time: 1:10 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (in the woods)
Common Name: Whorled Wood Aster
Scientific Name: Oclemena acuminata
Comments: Whorled Wood Asters are among the relatively few woodland wildflowers that bloom in late summer and early fall.
Note the pure gold-green sweat bee feeding on the blossoms.
More information: Wildflowers of the Adirondacks
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/21/16
Observation Time: 3:20 p.m.
Observation Location: Kendall Estate, Moose Hill Street
Common Name: Wild geranium
Scientific Name: Geranium maculatum
Comments: Geranium maculatum, the wild geranium, spotted geranium, or wood geranium, is a perennial plant native to woodlands of eastern North America, from southern Manitoba and southwestern Quebec south to Alabama and Georgia and west to Oklahoma and South Dakota.
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/23/18
Observation Time: 9:30 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Wild geranium
Scientific Name: Geranium maculatum
Comments: Geranium maculatum, the wild geranium, spotted geranium, or wood geranium, is a perennial plant native to woodlands of eastern North America, from southern Manitoba and southwestern Quebec south to Alabama and Georgia and west to Oklahoma and South Dakota.
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/26/19
Observation Time: 2:45 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (formerly the Kendall Estate)
Common Name: Wild geranium
Scientific Name: Geranium maculatum
Comments: Geranium maculatum, the wild geranium, spotted geranium, or wood geranium, is a perennial plant native to woodlands of eastern North America.
More Information: USDA Forest Service
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 6/5/11
Observation Time: 3:20 p.m.
Observation Location: Kendall Estate, Moose Hill Street
Common Name: Wild geranium
Scientific Name: Geranium maculatum
Comments: Geranium maculatum, the wild geranium, spotted geranium, or wood geranium, is a perennial plant native to woodlands of eastern North America, from southern Manitoba and southwestern Quebec south to Alabama and Georgia and west to Oklahoma and South Dakota.
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 6/6/11
Observation Time: 2:20 p.m.
Observation Location: field near Gavins Pond Dam
Common Name: Wild Indigo
Scientific Name: Baptisia australis
Comments: It is a perennial upright bushy plant with attractive foliage. Blossoms in mid-summer are bright yellow. Seed heads turn a deep indigo color providing winter interest.
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 7/22/15
Observation Time: 5:00 p.m.
Observation Location: field near Gavins Pond Dam
Common Name: Wild Indigo
Scientific Name: Baptisia australis
Comments: It is a perennial upright bushy plant with attractive foliage and yellow blossoms. Seed heads turn a deep indigo color providing winter interest.
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 6/9/13
Observation Time: 2:15 p.m.
Observation Location: Gavins Pond area
Common Name: Wild Iris
Scientific Name: Iris virginica shrevei
Comments: These gorgeous flowers bloom in spring around Sharon. These are also known as Harlequin Blueflag and Northern Blue Flag. Look for them in swamps, marshes, and wet shorelines from Virginia to Canada. Watch honeybees and native bees land on the large petal, which must look AMAZING in their ultraviolet-shifted vision, and scoot down into the nectary through the roofed-over passage. Sometimes they’ll exit on the side if they are small enough.
More Information: Backyard and Beyond
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/12/11
Observation Time: 8:35 a.m.
Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road near soccer field parking lot
Common Name: Wild mustard
Scientific Name: Barbarea vulgaris Aiton
Comments: Also called yellow rocket, or early winter cress, introduced from Eurasia.
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/31/20
Observation Time: 3:00 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR)
Common Name: Wild Violet
Scientific Name: Viola odorata
Comments: V. odorata is native to Europe and Asia, but has also been introduced to North America and Australia. It is a hardy herbaceous flowering perennial.
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/7/19
Observation Time: 8:00 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Wild Violet
Scientific Name: Viola odorata
Comments: V. odorata is native to Europe and Asia, but has also been introduced to North America and Australia. It is a hardy herbaceous flowering perennial.
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/27/14
Observation Time: 6:50 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Wisteria
Scientific Name: Wisteria spp.
Comments: Wisteria is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae (Leguminosae), that includes ten species of woody climbing vines that are native to China, Korea, and Japan and as an introduced species to the Eastern United States.
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/1/25
Observation Time: 8:30 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR)
Common Name: Wood Anemone
Scientific Name: Anemone quinquefolia
Comments: Also called wood windflower, wood anemone is one of the earliest blooming flowers in the rich, moist forests of New England. Look for showy white flowers poking above the dissected leaves, only 3 inches (7 cm) tall. These offer food to pollinators searching for nectar early in the season. Like other anemones, wood anemone doesn’t have true petals, but petal-like sepals. Wood anemone may have four to nine sepals, most commonly five.
Please do not dig up and transplant wildflowers. They are adapted to the spot where they are growing and typically do not survive transplantation.
More Information: Go Botany
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 4/27/23
Observation Time: 3:20 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) along dirt road under high tension wires
Common Name: Wood Anemone
Scientific Name: Anemone quinquefolia
Comments: Also called wood windflower, wood anemone is one of the earliest blooming flowers in the rich, moist forests of New England. Look for showy white flowers poking above the dissected leaves, only 3 inches (7 cm) tall. These offer food to pollinators searching for nectar early in the season. Like other anemones, wood anemone doesn’t have true petals, but petal-like sepals. Wood anemone may have four to nine sepals, most commonly five.
More Information: Go Botany
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 4/27/24
Observation Time: 4:30 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR)
Common Name: Wood Anemone
Scientific Name: Anemone quinquefolia
Comments: Also called wood windflower, wood anemone is one of the earliest blooming flowers in the rich, moist forests of New England. Look for showy white flowers poking above the dissected leaves, only 3 inches (7 cm) tall. These offer food to pollinators searching for nectar early in the season. Like other anemones, wood anemone doesn’t have true petals, but petal-like sepals. Wood anemone may have four to nine sepals, most commonly five.
Please do not dig up and transplant wildflowers. They are adapted to the spot where they are growing and typically do not survive transplantation.
More Information: Go Botany
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/6/20
Observation Time: 9:40 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR)
Common Name: Wood Anemone
Scientific Name: Anemone quinquefolia
Comments: Also called wood windflower, wood anemone is one of the earliest blooming flowers in the rich, moist forests of New England. Look for showy white flowers poking above the dissected leaves, only 3 inches (7 cm) tall. These offer food to pollinators searching for nectar early in the season. Like other anemones, wood anemone doesn’t have true petals, but petal-like sepals. Wood anemone may have four to nine sepals, most commonly five.
More Information: Go Botany
Wood anemones flowers usually have five sepals, but not always.
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 6/26/15
Observation Time: 1:40 p.m.
Observation Location: meadow near Morse and Lakeview Streets
Common Name: Yellow Hawkweed
Scientific Name: Hieracium caespitosum
Comments: Yellow hawkweed is native to Europe and was introduced as an ornamental into New York in 1879. It is now a destructive weed of pastureland. It can colonize a wide range of habitats with sandy or gravelly soils.
More Information: Go Botany
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/17/23
Observation Time: 7:10 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Yellow Star Grass
Scientific Name: Hypoxis hirsuta
Comments: Yellow star-grass is the only native wildflower with a six-petaled yellow blossom.
More Information: U.S. Wildflowers
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/29/14
Observation Time: 12:20 p.m.
Observation Location: Borderland State Park
Common Name: Yellow Star Grass
Scientific Name: Hypoxis hirsuta
Comments: Yellow star-grass is the only native wildflower with a six-petaled yellow blossom.
More Information: U.S. Wildflowers
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 10/3/10
Observation Time: 9:10 a.m.
Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road
Common Name: Yellow Toadflax (a.k.a. Common Toadflax)
Scientific Name: Linaria vulgaris
Comments: Also known as butter and eggs plant or wild snapdragon, this invasive perennial weed from Eurasia thrives in poor soil where there is little competition from larger plants.
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/14/25
Observation Time: 3:30 p.m.
Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road
Common Name: Yellow Woodsorrel
Scientific Name: Oxalis stricta
Comments: All parts of the plant are edible,[5] with a distinct tangy flavor (common to all plants in the genus Oxalis). The leaves taste mild, with a similar taste to lemons. Lemon clover is often eaten while hiking or camping. However, it should only be eaten in small quantities, since oxalic acid is an antinutrient and can inhibit the body’s absorption of calcium
– from Wikipedia
More Information: University of Minnesota Extension
