Mmmm — mint by the shore at Ashbridge’s

On at recent walk at Ashbridge’s Bay, my local park on the north shore of Lake Ontario, I was busy looking at all sorts of flowers — golden rod, sweet white clover, the chicory blooms hanging on valiantly into the beginnings of fall. And then I stumbled into a patch of greenery right by the edge of the water that had this wonderfully pungent green smell. I had to think for a moment to figure out what the delightful aroma was. And then it hit me. It could only be mint.

I took photos of the plants in the patch, then came home to identify them. I started by trying to match up the tiny whitish-lavender flower heads in my wildflower guide (National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers (Eastern).  It didn’t take long to find a photo that was a close match to the lovely delicate flowers I’d seen. And when I saw the plant’s common name, I knew it had to be right. Hoary mountain mint (Pycnanthemum incanum).

My guide tells me that this plant’s genus name comes from two Greek roots: pycn (dense) and anthos (flower), which aptly describe its crowded flower clusters.

Going through the guide’s description, I made further comparisons.

Height: from one to three feet, check;

Flowering: from July to September, check;

Range: Ontario included, check.

Hmm. All good. I think it’s a match.

I’m going right back to the beach to smell it again.

© BCP 2010