Jewel Weed/Touch-Me-Not

Today my husband and I went to park near our home to see what was happening. For my local friends, that park is Churchill Woods in Glen Ellyn. We found many wonderful things, including this beautiful Spotted Jewelweed. It's also known as Touch-Me-Not, not because it could hurt you, but because of the way it disperses its' seeds, which is ballistic. The slightest touch will cause the seed pod to burst and send the seeds flying some distance. If you have ever grown impatients in your garden, you may have come across that before. Jewelweed and garden impatients are in the same genus. This plant is found near banks of streams, rivers, and damp swampy areas. Besides bees, hummingbirds are a major pollinator.
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