CONTINUING OUR VISIT TO THE MUSEUM OF THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY, WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA 7-16-24

Before I forget, I thought it important to mention that the museum is closed on Mondays.  This is just in case anyone out there is visiting the area and may want to go there. 

Above is an older photo of the museum, from one of our visits shared in this post. The flowers below were found on our recent visit in the flower beds at the side of the museum not too far from where we entered the Glen Burnie Gardens.

This was found right outside of the museum's main entrance. Called Southern Globethistle, other names are Globe thistle and Small Globethistle, with a botanical name of Echinops ritro. Like other thistle plants, it has prickly, weed-like leaves. It is drought tolerant and will grow well in dry soil.

Looking for information on this flower, I came across a new blog to me. The host is a lady called Audrey Driscoll and she also writes stories. I haven't looked into that yet as I was more interested in her flower posts. She has several including this Southern globethistle. If you are interested in taking a look you can go here.

Native to southern and eastern Europe (from Spain east to Turkey, Ukraine, and Belarus) and western Asia. The species is sparingly naturalized in scattered locations in Canada and the United States. It needs a full day of sun, at least six hours to remain compact and grow well. It will grow leggy if shade persists.

Next is the Purple Coneflower, also called Eastern purple coneflower and Hedgehog coneflower. Botanical name Echinacea purpurea. It is an herb native to North America. I have a few of them in my garden and no doubt you are familiar with them as they seem to be everywhere. Its genus name, Echinacea, means 'spiny', because its flowers are especially like a prickly sea urchin, which also has the same genus name. Some people think its flowers resemble petals around pinecones, and so this genus is called the coneflower. Since it has purple petals around the cones, it's called the purple coneflower.

The red flower is Scarlet beebalm. You can see very nice photos of it here, and also other colors plus different types of flowers if you scroll down their page. The ones in the flower bed near the museum were not looking their best, but I still liked them. Shriveled up with the heat probably but still flashy with their red skirts. A few other names are Oswego tea, Crimson bee-balm, Bergamot and Scarlet monarda. Botanical name Monarda didyma. 

It is non-toxic to humans and is a perennial herb. It forms a cluster of bright red flowers atop a 3-foot long stem, which is particularly attractive to hummingbirds. 

The leaves are aromatic with a minty smell, and can also be brewed into a tea. The Oswego people taught the early European colonists to do this in the New York area. Its common name, Scarlet beebalm, refers to the use of a resin which is derived and used for its ability for healing and pain-relieving, and especially from bee stings, hence its name. Most of the flowers are scarlet red-colored, so it is often called scarlet beebalm. You can read more at this link.

I always am curious as to where they originated, and this one is native to Eastern North Amerca and Canada. Its native range is from Quebec south to Maine and down to Georgia, and westward from Ontario to Minnesota, and down to Missouri. It is also native to Washington and Oregon in the west.

Across the road from the museum and up the hill you will see an old silo. It is one of the last remnants of what was once an old working farm here. On this page, it will show you what they have done inside. On the left of the page click on Silo Skyline to see more. It looks very impressive and I would like to take a look next time we go.

I'll end my post here and show you the gift shop early next week. That will be my last share from the museum until the next time we go.

Thanks for looking and 

wishing you all a very enjoyable 

rest of the week.