There were a lot of preachers in our dry woods Sunday – and all of them not only were named Jack, each seemed to be praying for rain. Graceful Jack-in-the-Pulpit plants are popping up all over the boggier parts of the forest, with their spadices (“Jacks”) standing tall in their spathes (“Pulpits”).
The plants are lovely, but dangerous: their leaves are significant irritants to humans and can be toxic to horses, dogs, and cats. Nonetheless, Native Americans used the plants’ roots to treat rheumatism and snake bites.
Oh, didn’t we tell you? It rained hard Monday (yesterday) and is still doing so as we speak. (Brooklin, Maine) Go Caps!