The Devil’s Walking Stick‍

‍It’s possible that the North American native tree which sports the largest of leaves might also boast having the largest clusters of flowers. Like inch-and-a-half leaflets which make up a six-foot leaf, flowers of Aralia spinosa are small, but many. Quietly drift up to one hanging over the water of Lake Jocassee and listen for the buzz of winged beings. You won’t hear it right away. You might not even notice how many species of insects work these flowers, but let eyes and ears settle into the busy scene, and there they are. Dozens of bees and wasps and beetles and butterflies, browsing around a galaxy of flowers no bigger than a peppercorn, oblivious to the gaze of curious humans. ~K