Plant Identification
Jul. 20th, 2023 07:11 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
upstairsfromrealityJoan was happy to get out of the city. She, Sherlock, and Arthur were spending four precious days up in the Adirondacks by Lake Placid with just woods, views, and a cabin with a decent kitchen. The air smelled better, and she would finally be able to relax.
The second morning at the cabin, Sherlock proposed a game for their hike. "A dollar to the one who finds the first, most species of, and most unusual wildflowers!"
Of course, Sherlock's observational skills would ordinarily give him the advantage in this game, but Arthur had a secret weapon. His height, or rather lack thereof, brought him closer to the wildflowers. He found the first one, a red baneberry, and the race was off. Joan was content to point out one or two occasionally while Arthur and Sherlock observed rings around each other, pointing out shinleaf plants, wild columbines, and others she had never heard of.
As the trail dipped down to the boggy edge of a pond, Arthur pointed out one more flower: "This one's beautiful, Mommy! What is it?"
Joan stopped cold. She looked at the plant's white, umbrella-like flower clusters, pinnate leaves, and hairless stems. She swallowed hard. "That's called hemlock, Arthur. Please don't touch it; it's poisonous." Her voice sounded strained in her ears.
"Mommy, are you okay?" asked Arthur
"I'm all right. I just knew someone a long time ago who was hurt by a plant like that," said Joan.
"It's ok, Mommy. I won't touch it." said Arthur.
Sherlock gently guided them both home. There would be time to remember Andrew after Arthur had lunch.
The second morning at the cabin, Sherlock proposed a game for their hike. "A dollar to the one who finds the first, most species of, and most unusual wildflowers!"
Of course, Sherlock's observational skills would ordinarily give him the advantage in this game, but Arthur had a secret weapon. His height, or rather lack thereof, brought him closer to the wildflowers. He found the first one, a red baneberry, and the race was off. Joan was content to point out one or two occasionally while Arthur and Sherlock observed rings around each other, pointing out shinleaf plants, wild columbines, and others she had never heard of.
As the trail dipped down to the boggy edge of a pond, Arthur pointed out one more flower: "This one's beautiful, Mommy! What is it?"
Joan stopped cold. She looked at the plant's white, umbrella-like flower clusters, pinnate leaves, and hairless stems. She swallowed hard. "That's called hemlock, Arthur. Please don't touch it; it's poisonous." Her voice sounded strained in her ears.
"Mommy, are you okay?" asked Arthur
"I'm all right. I just knew someone a long time ago who was hurt by a plant like that," said Joan.
"It's ok, Mommy. I won't touch it." said Arthur.
Sherlock gently guided them both home. There would be time to remember Andrew after Arthur had lunch.
