The summer season is at it’s close in Kansas and I recorded several photos of the Solomon Seal plants throughout their lifecycle. Solomon’s Seals are a fascination for me. Partly because my Mom never told me about them growing on the side of the house yet I discovered them in a class with Jane Sassaman. Mom then gave me a start for my house (the original’s were my grandmothers) and I have since passed them to several artists in the area to grow as well.
A close relative to the Lily-of-the-Valley, the Solomon’s Seal has a long slender stalk with light green figure-shaped flowers. Blossoms hang on the stem in pairs of two, just under each set of two leaves, on stalks of 18 or more inches. Flowers develop into deep purple berries coveted by birds. Its roots and shoots are edible. Pioneers and American Indians crushed the roots for flour, the leaves for tea and also used it for medicinal purposes.
The Solomon’s Seal got its name from the scars on the rootstock which somewhat look like a royal seal. The name Solomon came from King Solomon, the tenth century B.C. King of Israel. It was said that King Solomon placed his seal of approval on this plant. The scientific name for this plant is Polygonatum biflorum and another name for this plant is Sigillum benedictae virgins, or seal of the Blessed Virgin.
Here is the photojournal of them.
Chameleon Art Studio 
Love those photos. I have both Solomon’s Seal and False Solomon’s Seal (Smilacina racemosa) in my garden. I had Jamie over to check out my native garden last time she was in Westport. But it’s better in spring!