One of the delights of taking a walk in Spring is noticing all the new buds bursting out of their winter slumbers and flowers just starting to bloom; a daily walk is sure to keep you marvelling as to which neighbour might be putting out its floral displays next. I only have to walk off the porch to find a favourite of mine the Buffalo Bean or Golden Bean. To avoid confusion, we should mention its proper scientific name Thermopsis rhomifolia, which translates roughly to a flower that resembles a lupin with diamond shaped leaves.
This little neighbour appeared in my garden the first spring I moved into the country before the thought of turning the soil had “sprung” to my mind. I recognized it immediately from the medicinal plant walks we ran with kids at work. The bright yellow flowers could be used as a source of yellow dye and the curled pealike seed pods must not be eaten due to the poisonous alkaloids inside. But the part I most enjoyed telling the students was the reliable yellow bloom would tell the Blackfoot people that the buffalo bulls were ready to be hunted. I would ask the kids to imagine being so in tune to the landscape around you that the blooming of certain flowers would provide them with messages about their daily routines. I love to imagine when a buffalo bull might happen by one day when I’m admiring my neighbour, but for now I heed its message of “hey its time to get to your garden.”
The yellow petals of the Buffalo Bean also remind me of how wonderfully in tune nature is to its own needs. I recently was trying to learn a bunch of flowers in a new park. I thought I would take an easy route and simply learn the names of the flowers as they appeared on the landscape chronologically in the Spring. I was flipping back and forth in the plant books from white to yellow flowers and then back weekly. Around the seventh yellow flower, I finally found a biologist friend and asked why are there so many yellow and white flowers in Spring, where are all the other blooming colours? They informed me that in early spring the pollinators who are first to emerge are the flies, not the flashy butterflies and bees, and flies don’t see in colour. Yellow and white petals are used by early blooming flowers because they reflect light very well which is a nice contrast with the greens and browns that flies just see as dark colours. How marvellously simple.
I don’t know why the Buffalo Beans showed up in my garden. But I take the time to thank them each Spring for reminding me to heed the messages of the land, to get ready to hunt down my connection to the earth, reflect back the light I receive and to welcome all who come with a helping hand (not just the flashy ones). To search for Buffalo Beans, head out to grassy meadow areas and sandy open spots; their eye- catching golden beauty will guide you in.
