Willdflowers of Chesapeake Bay Watershed

In Full Bloom

Bay Buddies / By Kathleen Gaskell - Bay Journal

The woodlands and fields of the Chesapeake Bay watershed are home to bouquet of wildflowers. Can you pick the right description for each plant?

1. Bindweed
2. Daylily
3. Jack-in-the-Pulpit
4. Jewelweed
5. Lady’s Slipper
6. Mullein
7. Pickerelweed
8. Queen Anne’s Lace
9. Smartweed

A. The seeds of this sun-loving plant can stay alive for 20 years or more in the soil.

B. This plant is a favorite with bird watchers. It (and ragweed) attract more seed-eating birds than any other plant in the Northeast United States.

C. The plant is known for its ability to alleviate the discomfort of poison ivy. When the fruit of this plant matures, the slightest touch will cause it to explode and disperse the seeds inside.

D. The long, thin taproot of this wildflower looks and smells like a carrot, hence its other name, wild carrot.

E. Its heart-shaped leaves and spikes of purple-blue flowers help to identify this aquatic wildflower, which got its name from the creature that is said to lay its eggs nearby.

F. Originally planted in the gardens of European settlers to North America, this perennial has escaped and can be seen in large clumps throughout the countryside.

G Be careful where you put your feet when walking through an oak or pine forest. Otherwise, you might step on this orchid, which also known as squirrel shoes.

H. The appearance of this plant depends on the amount of food that is stored in its corm, or underground stem, at the end of the previous growing season. When there is a lot of food stored, this plant will produce two leaves and a female flower. If there is less food, a single leaf and male flower appears. When even less food is stored, the plant produces a single leaf and no flower. A plant is able to change its sex from year to year.

I. This plant has many names. “Velvet-leaf” and “Flannel-leaf” describe this plant’s woolly leaves, while its tall stalk, no doubt, is the inspiration for “Jacob’s Staff.”

Kathleen A. Gaskell, the layout & design editor for the Bay Journal, has been involved with several environmental programs for children.

In Full Bloom

Bay Journal - June 1999

Fresh Tulips USA - one of the largest greenhouses in the world...

Virginia Factory Turns Out Tulips by the Millions

Dutch flower farmer ships 400,000 blooms each day

VOA - Meg Farrage | Stevensburg, Virginia May 10, 2011

Photo: VOA

Workers at Fresh Tulips USA in Virginia, ship out 45 million flowers each year.

Spring means watching flowers bloom and one amazing place to watch this happen can be found near Stevensburg, Virginia, just 113 kilometers (70 miles) outside of Washington.  At Fresh Tulips USA, they pick 4.5 million of these buds every week, making it one of the largest greenhouses in the world.

Coen Haakman is a Dutch tulip farmer who moved his tulip-growing operation to the United States in 2004.  In just seven years his company has become one of the world’s largest tulip producers.

"We are a tulip factory," says Haakman. "We employ about 100 employees.  We are open from about from 7 a.m. in the morning until 3 a.m. at night."

Haakman’s original goal was to sell about five million tulips a year.  His annual sales are now at 45 million with the company shipping 400,000 tulips a day. The blooms travel to market across half the United States - from Boston down to Florida, and across to Texas.

Besides the sheer scale of this operation, there’s another interesting fact.  All these tulips are grown without using soil.

"We grow them all hydroponically. All our bulbs grow without any soil, or chemicals or pesticides," says Haakman. "The bulb itself has so many nutrients in it that it can grow by itself. It only needs water and some fertilizer to get to a full product and I think that is pretty innovative."

It’s not easy to grow 45 million tulips a year.  It requires running a tight ship and one of the most modern facilities.

"The greenhouse is about 40,000 square meters," says Haakman. "We have about eight million tulips in the greenhouse itself. It is fully automated. We have screens on top so we can open up the complete roof. It is all glass, hardened glass. We've got energy curtains, shade curtains, heating, water.  Everything is prepared here to grow lots of tulips."

Throughout the greenhouse, watering booms slowly water the entire bay while workers are busy planting, picking and packaging the tulips.

Normally, the facility ships about 400,000 tulips a day.  But that number goes up dramatically around the U.S. Mother’s Day holiday in May.  Haakman says preparations for Mother’s Day start a year in advance.

"If we don’t prepare in May for what we need the next year in May, we will be too late.  I need roughly five-six million tulips for Mother’s Day and if I don’t prepare that on time, I will not have them."

Haakman says it’s common for large-scale tulip production to be done hydroponically.  But he says there are only about five other tulip-growing operations in the world as large as his.

Virginia Factory Turns Out Tulips by the Millions
Aritcle and Video from VOA

Valentine’s Day - Prepare to Celebrate Romance and Love

Americans Prepare to Celebrate Valentine’s Day

Adam Phillips | New York February 11, 2011 - VOA

Photo: VOA - A. Phillips

China says Freddy makes her feel like a princess all of the time.

February 14 is Valentine’s Day in the United States, a special time set aside for lovers and spouses to say, "I love you,"  often with flowers, chocolates and a romantic meal. And while love is universal, just what makes any one of us of feel cherished can be highly personal.

Even in the icy depths of a New York winter, love continues to burn hot and glow deep for China and Freddy, who are at the  Marriage Bureau waiting to get the license to say, "I do."

"He makes me feel like a princess all the time," says China with a grin. "He is the boy of my dreams."

Freddy looks into China’s eyes. "She is my best friend, my psychiatrist and my lover, all in one. I can talk to her about anything."

A young man named Leon says he feels loved when he and his wife can remain respectful even when they disagree. "She won’t leave during an argument, or on bad terms. We always work it out. She sticks with me through thick and thin."

VOA - A. Phillips -  Aarwin and Geneva feel they complement each other.

Geneva is attracted by her fiancé’s character. "He’s just very patient with me, and that’s what I’m really grateful for. I can be really ‘Type A’ [driven] personality. I think I picked the right person to marry."

For his part, Aarwin appreciates Geneva’s acts of kindness. "It kind of makes me a little more caring, making me more thoughtful about people."  

Aarwin adds that the little things also make a big difference. "I don’t know how to iron that well and so every morning, even though she could be late for work, she takes her time and irons the shirts for me."  Aarwin gets special pleasure from the fact that the shirt is still warm when he puts it on.

VOA - A. Phillips - Hasson and Nicole show off their wedding rings.

For Hasson and Nicole, it’s also everyday kindness that makes them feel warmest. "She cooks for me, she feeds my dogs when I’m not there, and she knows how to pick my clothes better than I do." He laces his hand in hers. "It’s an assortment of things."

It is the train ride into the city today that is uppermost in Nicole’s mind. "I was tired and I was laying my head on his shoulder, and all of a sudden he just came over kissed me on my lips. That was sweet. He’s always caring. He’s there for the kids. He makes me feel appreciated. He always tells me, ‘Thank you, baby.’" 

VOA - A. Phillips - Tyrene's fiancé, Calien (left), does special things that can make any day feel like Valentine’s Day.

Tyrene's fiancé, Calien, does things that can make any day feel like Valentine’s Day. "He buys me flowers randomly and he gives me foot massages."

Calien says she often returns the gesture, giving him neck rubs, along with a nice warm dinner when he comes home tired.

A combination of nurturing and good-natured teasing keeps Ty and Elena in the love game.

"He brings me coffee in the morning to my bed," Elena says. "I wake up with his kisses and the coffee." She also likes to imitate him when he’s impatient.

"She does a fantastic job," admits Ty with a laugh, adding with a happy shrug, "She makes me feel young at heart, and I’m just in love with her." 

Just married! Ty and Elena kiss minutes after saying their vows. He is holding their wedding license.

For Magnus and Monica, who are visiting New York from Denmark, love shines bright when the heart feels heavy. "Sometimes if I feel a bit sad, Magnus will come into the room and put on a special song and does a little dance and a little mime. That really makes me happy always”"

Magnus says that Monica also cheers him with little dances, but she also employs other powerfully effective - if less athletic – methods. "Every time she just looks at me with her big beautiful eyes and I am just like in heaven."

Heartfelt kisses ensue.

Americans Prepare to Celebrate Valentine’s Day
Valentine's Article from VOA

Valentine’s Day - Give Roses to Show Affection - The Meaning of Flowers

Roses are red, Violets are Blue
What are these wildflowers saying to you?
Chesapeake Challenge / By Kathleen Gaskell - Bay Journal

On Valentine’s Day, many throughout the watershed will be giving or receiving roses as a token of affection. In Victorian society, though, more than roses were used to express one’s sentiments, and almost every flower had its own message based on the flower’s features or a legend that was associated with it. The meaning of these wildflowers, found in the watershed and listed here would have been readily recognized by a Victorian. See how many you can figure out.


1. Arum Lily (Arum maculatum)


2. Azalea (Azalea)


3. Bindweed (Convolvulus)


4. Bittersweet Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara)


5. Bulbous Buttercup (Ranunculus bulbosus)


6. Cardinalflower (Lobelia cardinalis)


7. Common Speedwell (Veronica)


8. Dwarf Iris (Iris verna)


9. Fern (Felicinae)


10. Fireweed (Epilobium augustifolium)


11. Hawkweed (Heiracium)


12. Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum)


13. Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium)


14. Lady’s Smock/Cuckoo Flower (Cardamine pratensis)


15. Lobelia (Lobelia)


16. Pigweed (Amaranthus)


17. Raspberry (Rubus)


18. Ragged Robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi)


19. Rhododendron (Rhododendron)


20. Sneezeweed (Helenium)


21. Stinging Nettle (Urtica urens)


22. Viper’s Bugloss (Echium vulgare)


23. Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox)


24. Wild Lettuce (Lactuca canadensis)


25. Wild Lupine (Lupinus)


26. Wild Strawberry (Fragaria)




A. Ardor


B. Celibacy


C. Childishness


D. Cold-heartedness


E. Comfort


F. Cruelty


G. Danger


H. Deceitful Charms


I. Distinction


J. Falsehood


K. Fidelity in Love


L. Immortality


M. Malevolence


N. Messenger


O. Night


P. Paternal Error


Q. Perfect Goodness


R. Quick-sightedness


S. Remorse


T. Sincerity


U. Tears


V. Temperence


W. Truth


X. Unanimity


Y. Voraciousness


Z. Wit




Answers: 1-B 2-V 3-O 4-W 5-C 6-I 7-K 8-N 9-T 10-B 11-R 12-E 13-H 14-P 15-M 16-L 17-S 18-Z 19-G 20-U 21-F 22- 23-X 24-D 25-Y 26-Q

Kathleen A. Gaskell, the layout & design editor for the Bay Journal, has been involved with several environmental programs for children.

Roses are red, Violets are Blue

Article from Bay Jouranl

Feb, 2006