Dutchman’s Breeches

Dicentra cucullaria

These are no knickers, Dutch or otherwise, but a yellowed tooth the bumblebee drills for nectar with her long strong tongue.

Where some see underwear, others — judging from the common names — see hats, white hearts or earrings, even butterfly collections.

It’s useful to know what you’re looking at. Some wasps have learned how to steal nectar by chewing a hole at the top, where the Dutchman’s foot would go into the breech.

I once spotted a white crab spider hanging from the end of the line like one more flower, waiting for an undiscriminating drinker, the trap of its legs set.

The Menominee used to use it as a love charm, lie in wait for their crushes & try to hit them with a well-aimed white heart.

Staggerweed, the old-time farmers called it, for what the lacy gray-green leaves could do to a cow.