“Meadow Anemone, Daughter of the Winds”

This lovely wildflower’s name Anemone means “daughter of the winds” in Greek. It was believed flowers only bloomed when the wind blew, which is not true. She prefers meadows, seeps, glades, and a bit more moisture than other wildflowers. Growth is 8-24 inches high and spreads 24-36 inches from a rhizomatous root system. Flowers are white, 5-petaled, and have yellow/green centers with deeply divided leaves. Bloom time is May to June, sporadically into August. It produces a lot of pollen, but not nectar. Nonetheless, it’s also a snack for waterfowl.

The Meskwaki and Ojibwa people used a root infusion to clear the throat for singing in ceremonies, alleviate pain, as an eye wash for crossed eyes, twitches, and poisoning, as well as for helping headaches and dizzy spells. The Iroquois used the root to treat tuberculosis and worms and combined it with liquor to counteract ‘witch medicine.’

Anemone is accompanied by the Variegated Fritillary butterfly and bees, highlighting the partnership between prairie plants and pollinators.

Original mixed media on raw stretched canvas with maple float frame.