Category Archives: Cape Cod Blog

Cape Cod Blog, Cape Cod Photography, Cape Cod Wildflowers

Spotted Wintergreen Wildflowers At Our Home On Cape Cod

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We have a lot of Spotted Wintergreen wildflowers growing right near our home here on Cape Cod. They are such an interesting wildflower.

You can see in the second photograph the little bud on the left and the flower starting to bloom on the right. When it is fully bloomed, it flips over and you can see the delicate little flower as it faces the sun.

The Spotted Wintergreen is native and its flower is small, only about 1″ which grows in July and August.  Native Americans used its leaf tea to treat rheumatism and stomach problems, and crushed leaves were applied as a poultice to sores and wounds. Spotted Wintergreen is considered rare in New England.

Cape Cod Birding, Cape Cod Blog, Cape Cod Photography

Eastern Kingbird At Our Bird Bath On Cape Cod

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What a treat it was to see this Eastern Kingbird at our bird bath her on Cape Cod. We saw our first eastern Kingbird about a month ago at the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. We had never seen one before.

So now to see one in our own backyard is really cool!

The Eastern Kingbird is often seen perched on a treetop waiting to catch an insect in mid-air.  They also pick food items off the ground, especially in cooler weather when many insects don’t fly.

Cape Cod Blog, Cape Cod Photography, Cape Cod Wildflowers

The Yuccas Are Blooming And Hardy Here On Cape Cod

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The Yuccas are absolutely stunning this year on Cape Cod. I wonder if it’s because of all the moisture that we’ve had.

I saw this “pastoral scene” with the luscious Yuccas on one of my early morning bike rides around to the different beaches. It’s amazing what you can see when you’re not worried about traffic and pedestrians.

I edited it in 2 different ways. Which one do you like better?

The Yuccas seem to grow quite well on Cape Cod due to the sandy soil and the amount of rain that Cape Cod receives during the growing months.

Cape Cod Blog, Cape Cod Hiking, Cape Cod Photography, Cape Cod Wildflowers

Purple Climbing Nightshade Wildflower At Fort Hill On Cape Cod

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The Climbing Nightshade wildflowers, also known as Bittersweet Nightshade,  are just beautiful at Fort Hill in Eastham on Cape Cod. You can see them on the trail near the Cutting Rock or on the trail leading up to the overlook parking lot.

Climbing Nightshade wildflowers are a climbing vine with purple shooting star-shaped flowers of about 1/2″ which grow in clusters at the ends of long stems. Their petals are swept back from a yellow central “beak.”

One of my friends just commented that these plants are extremely toxic. I did some research on the internet and learned:

“The foliage is toxic to many people and should be handled with care. The fruit is said to also be toxic, particularly to children.”

Be careful and not touch this wildflower!

Thanks, Mike, for the “heads up!”