Jacob's ladder, Polemonium reptans, gets it common name from its distinctive leaves, which some say look like a tiny ladder stretching towards heaven. Its scientific name is more descriptive meaning "creeping phlox" in Greek. It is not an overly showy plant, but it thrives in moist shady locations where few other plants bloom, such as along the Smug Path here at Glenstone and between the Café and Gallery. Its purple-blue flowers only last one day, but the floral display continues from April to May. Jacob's ladder is attractive to mining and other short-tongued bees and is the sole host to the Maryland native bee Andrena polemonii, also called the Jacob's ladder miner. Though fairly rare in Maryland, if you plant Jacob's ladder, they may pop by for a visit.

–Tim Curley