A jewel in the wild

The flowers of the jewelweed plant, with their orange/yellow color and unusual presentation, seem perfectly designed for hummingbirds. It is a native annual plant and a natural selection for hummingbird lovers. This plant will grow to profusion in wet shaded or semishaded areas such as around ponds and drains.

The jewelweed has soft blue-green leaves, and the stem is tender. It can grow to a height of about 4 feet if conditions are right. It blooms summer through fall.

To encourage its growth, you need do little more than identify it when it is small during springtime and periodically trim away competing plants. This will inspire the jewelweed to dominate an area. Grass does not seem to impede its growth.

The sap from the stem of the jewelweed is effective in controlling the itch of poison ivy and poison oak. American Indians used the jewelweed in this way.

The wild jewelweed I show here is also called a Spotted Touch-Me-Not. This name comes from the way its ripe seedpods explode upon being touched.

Because of the way this flower hangs from the plant, it will sway in the gentlest breeze, making it a difficult subject to photograph close up. Wait for a time of absolute calm as I did here.

Even then, you may need a tripod to get a sharp image, because the jewelweed flower is quite small.

Through the Woods is a weekly nature photo column by Aaron Horrell. Find this column at semissourian.com to order a reprint of the photo. Find more work by him at the O'Tenem Gallery.