St John's Wort

St John's Wort - Mid-June

St John's Wort is a meadow plant, you can find it all along the Sakatah, but the best area to spot it is along the Madison Lake to Elysian section, just before the old Farmstead. It grows right next to the trail. The plant itself comes back every year by itself, it grows by spreading roots, much like ground ivy (creeping Charlie).

This plant has a property of reducing some types of depression in people. Interesting part is that how it does this is not completely understood, although apparently it works with the human Serotonin levels. Maybe that's why when I see it on the trail, I immediately forget all my problems and enjoy the moment. The first time I saw this plant, I was stunned with it's beauty. It's a striking plant, and if you come to the trail in the summer, you will surely see it. I've only seen it in this one area, but there is no reason to not expect it near or past Sakatah State Park

Click here for Wikipedia Technical Article on St John's Wort