Parnassia glauca

Parnassia glauca – fen grass of Parnassus, Bog star, American grass of Parnassus

September is always signaled by Parnassia glauca flowers. This species can be found growing in fens, wetland edges and floodplains, on calcareous substrates in NE US and SE Canada.
Despite the name and wild habitat preference, it can be easily grown in the garden in a full/part sun location in a moist enough location, which means, a spot where watering is done at least during very dry spells. Otherwise, during spring and fall there is usually plenty of rain to keep the soil saturated in many parts of Canada.

Parnassia glauca growing in the garden with good companions: Lobelia cardinalis, Iris versicolor, Viola nephrophylla, Sisyrinchium mucronatum

There are many other species of Parnassia in N America, Europe and Asia; the genus name is thought to refer to Mount Parnassus in Greece.
All have very interesting flowers at a closer look because of the 5 sterile stamens, which can have 3 or more branches that display yellow glands at their ends looking like drops of ‘nectar’. It is not nectar, just a way the plant tricks pollinators, which are also guided by the veins on the petals.

Parnassia glauca flower close-up; notice the sterile stamens with 3 branches

For growing Parnassia from seeds, the sowing is best done in late fall with the cold/moist stratification provided over the winter.
One can also try to cast the fine seeds ‘in situ’ in a moist area and hope for the best (cover lightly with sand/fine gravel to prevent them from being blown away).