Turtlehead, millpond

I was finally able to push my body past an overgrowth of vegetation—an overgrowth that no doubt harbored an abundance of ticks—and wade through the greenery, some of it bearing vicious thorns, to the edge of the millpond behind the ruined barn. This is often a terrific spot for wetlands plants and odonates, and high on my recent list has been to check on the blooming progress of a very pretty plant called Turtlehead. Its blossoms resemble the noggins of chelonians, and the flowers are bumblebee magnets. There's an abundance of pollen and nectar for the bees, but recent research suggests that Turtlehead offers something more: something very surprising. Chelone glabra may be crafting medications that the bees can use to reduce the numbers of parasites they often harbor. Lowering this burden may also reduce the risk of spreading parasites to other bees. A flower may be nature's medicine chest.