Are We Walking to Alaska

Are We Walking to Alaska
Are We Walking to Alaska - A True Story

Thursday, June 25, 2015

So - What is This???

In yesterday's post I showed this flower that I couldn't identify
And my readers quickly identified it as Goat's Beard

But wait
 When we first moved to Washington in 2001 we saw this lovely plant flowering - and someone told us that it was called Goat's Beard
 I can certainly see the resemblance to a goat's beard 
 With some research I think I've been able to identify it as a plant called Ocean Spray 
 A much prettier name than Goat's Beard - so is this a correct identification?  Is it only called Goat's Beard by residents of Bellingham?
 The blossoms are simply beautiful

It grows in masses alongside the street leading to our house - beautiful for sure - hayfever?  Oh yes!!

13 comments:

Peggy said...

Pretty by any name

21 Wits said...

I'm never good with names of anything. But these are extremely pretty.

Lorrie said...

Up here on the Island we call it Ocean Spray. It is so lovely and delicate.
Ocean Spray (holodiscus-discolor) is a different plant than Goat's Beard (aruncus dioicus). Ocean Spray is native to the west coast and I don't think it's common elsewhere.

Maureen @ Josephina Ballerina said...

Maybe it's just me, but the two don't look alike. On the first one the white is more distinct -a little like individual pipe cleaners.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Hay fever is always the down side of any roadside beauty at this time of the year isn't it?

Pamela Gordon said...

It is pretty and, although I'm not sure of the name, it does look like a goat's beard. :)

Judy at GoldCountryCottage said...

I have never seen a bush like that, JoAnn, but it really is a beauty. Too bad it is a cause for hay fever as it looks like it would make a beautiful arrangement..Happy Thursday..Judy

Thelma said...

I have one. I always known it as Goats Beard, I like Ocean Spray better. Thanks.I agree with you. It is too pretty to be called Goats Beard.

Julie Fukuda said...

I have heard the name, Ocean spray before.
All our bushes with small flowers drop stuff all over the street for me to sweep ... making me long for a compost pile.

Kay said...

The second plant is definitely Ocean Spray and it's common around here too. The wood of the branches is apparently very hard and after the blossoms peter out the seeds are a very good food source for birds. I don't know Goat's Beard; don't think I've seen much of it though it's very showy.

Candy S said...

Ocean Spray does sound so much better to describe this beautiful flowering tree (or is it a shrub?). The Ocean Spray looks so elegant with it's beautiful white flowers flowing down like fairy dust. It kind of reminds me of the way wisteria blossoms cascade down from their branches.

Amy at love made my home said...

No idea of the name, but very pretty!! xx

J said...

I think I would call them "angel wings." So pretty!