Category: Flowers

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/19/26 Observation Time: 10:30 a.m. Observation Location: Sharon Historical Society at 16 High St. Common Name: Leopard’s-bane Scientific Name: Doronicum pardalianches Comments: Leopard’s-bane is a flowering plant in the sunflower family. It is a herbaceous perennial native to Europe, southwest Asia and Siberia. It produces yellow, daisy-like flowerheads in spring and summer. It typically thrives in cool, mountainous regions and […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/27/26 Observation Time: 9:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Lesser Periwinkle Scientific Name: Vinca minor Comments: Also known as dwarf periwinkle and creeping myrtle, this non-native plant comes from Europe. It makes a good groundcover, and it produces lovely purple blossoms in spring and into summer, but once established it spreads and is hard to eradicate. […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/27/24 Observation Time: 8:45 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Common Blue Violet Scientific Name: Viola sororia Comments: The blossoms of common blue violets come in colors ranging from white to purple. More information: Wild Edible

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/24/26 Observation Time: 8:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Narrow-leaved Spring Beauty Scientific Name: Claytonia virginica Comments: Its scientific name honors Colonial Virginia botanist John Clayton (1694–1773). Spring Beauty is classified as an endangered species in Massachusetts. Please do not dig up any wildflowers you may find in Sharon.  Wildflowers are adapted to the spot where […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/15/26 Observation Time: 10:20 a.m. Observation Location: Wolomolopoag St. near Ward’s Berry Farm Common Name: European Field Pansy Scientific Name: Viola arvensis Comments: Field pansy is a species of violet. It is native to Europe, western Asia, and North Africa. On other continents it is an introduced species considered to be a weed that spreads in disturbed and cultivated areas. […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/15/26 Observation Time: 10:15 a.m. Observation Location: Wolomolopoag St. by Ward’s Berry Farm Common Name: Red Deadnettle Scientific Name: Lamium purpureum Comments:  Red deadnettle is a common, low-growing plant in the mint family. It is often mistaken for a stinging nettle, but it is harmless and edible, know for its square stems, hairy leaves, and pinish-purple flowers the appear in […]

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: 5/17/25 Observation Time: 6:45 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Dame’s Rocket Scientific Name: Hesperis matronalis Comments: Dame’s rocket is a tall, short-lived perennial, which produces white, pink or purple flowers in the spring. Known for its colorful and fragrant blooms, the plant has been a traditional garden favorite. However, in recent years, Dame’s rocket has gone […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/14/25 Observation Time: 4:30 p.m. Observation Location: under power lines across the street from Ward’s Berry Farm Common Name: Bird’s Foot Violet Scientific Name: Viola pedata Comments: Bird’s foot violets are perennials with five-petaled flowers that bloom from March to June. The flowers are typically blue, but can range from white to purple. They spread by sending out rhizomes. The […]

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: 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, […]

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 […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/8/25 Observation Time: 7:20 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Carolina Allspice Scientific Name: Calycanthus floridus Comments: Also known as Carolina Sweetshrub, this shrub deserves its name. The blossoms are fragrant and the leaves are aromatic when bruised. It’s range has expanded to New England from the middle-Atlantic states as a result of transplantation by humans. […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/7/25 Observation Time: 9:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary (boardwalk) Common Name: Marsh Blue Violet Scientific Name: Viola cucullata Comments: The violets of North America come in two general forms, the stemmed violets and the stemless violets. Stemmed violets produce leaves and flowers on upright stems. Stemless violets produce leaves and flowers from an underground vertical or […]

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 […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/23/25 Observation Time: 9:30 a.m. Observation Location: Sharon Common Name: Narrow-leaved Spring Beauty Scientific Name: Claytonia virginica Comments: Its scientific name honors Colonial Virginia botanist John Clayton (1694–1773). Spring Beauty is an endangered species in Massachusetts. Please do not dig up any wildflowers you may find in Sharon.  Wildflowers are adapted to the spot where they are growing, and often do […]

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 10/2/24 Observation Time: 11:00 a.m. Observation Location: Rattlesnake Hill trail Common Name: Primrose-leaf Violet Scientific Name: Viola primulifolia Comments: When the plant’s seed capsule is fully ripe, it splits into three parts and ejects the seed with explosive force. More information: Picture This

Observer: Jean Zaniewski Observation Date: 9/23/24 Observation Time: 12:15 p.m. Observation Location: Nstar high tension line property near Old Post Rd Common Name: Hairy Mountain Mint Scientific Name: Pycnanthemum verticillatum var. pilosum Comments: This plant grows to 3 feet tall 3 feet wide. I was attracted to this wildflower as I walked because it is taller, more robust; and a later, more prolific flower producer […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/4/24 Observation Time: 9:05 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Carolina Allspice Scientific Name: Calycanthus floridus Comments: Also known as Carolina Sweetshrub, this plant deserves its name. The blossoms are fragrant and the leaves are aromatic when bruised. More Information: Wikipedia and North Carolina Native Plant Society

Observer: David Dearborn Observation Date: 5/7/24 Observation Time: 3:20 p.m. Observation Location: Mountain Street Common Name: May Apple Scientific Name: Podophyllum peltatum Comments: This big patch of May Apples has a mutually beneficial relationship with box turtles, which eat the fruit and spread the seeds. More Information: Butler Soil and Water Conservation District Box turtle beside the house that can be seen in the photo […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/7/24 Observation Time: 11:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Mouse-ear chickweed Scientific Name: Cerastium fontanum Comments: Mouse-ear chickweed is a herb. Herbs are broad-leaved, herbaceous (non-woody) plants. Herbaceous plants are also known as forbs or wildflowers. More Information: Kansas Native Plants

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/4/24 Observation Time: 11:40 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Azure Bluet Scientific Name: Houstonia caerulea Comments: Azure bluets are also know as Quaker ladies. More Information: Wikipedia

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/28/24 Observation Time: 11:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (The Trustees of Reservations) Common Name: Lesser Periwinkle Scientific Name: Vinca minor Comments: Also known as dwarf periwinkle and creeping myrtle, this non-native plant comes from Europe. It makes a good groundcover, and it produces lovely purple blossoms in spring and into summer, but once established it spreads and is hard […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/28/24 Observation Time: 10:45 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Early Meadow Rue Scientific Name: Thalictrum dioicum Comments: Early meadow-rue is a graceful, 8-30 in. perennial with long-stalked leaves divided into many delicate, lobed segments. Petal-less flowers have yellow stamens that hang like small tassels. The female tassel-like blossoms are purple and appear on separate plants. This flower blooms […]

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 […]