Dame's Rocket

In much of North America, along every roadside, in every field -- almost wherever you turn -- Dame's Rocket (Hesperis matronalis) is growing and shooting its colorful flowers. Introduced over many centuries from Europe and Asia, it is ubiquitous here, especially along roadsides, from May through August.

It is hard to know how the "matronly" name was attached to it, but "rocket" is probably a corruption of "roquette," French for members of the Mustard family, to which this plant belongs.

This modest assemblage was photographed on a noontime walk today. (I should probably stop apologizing for missing days, though I really hoped to keep up the "daily" in daily photo! Work deadlines, other projects, and some changes I am trying to make in my life are getting in my way this time of year.)

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