The snow is melting but there is still a lot covering the ground in the woods. Maybe after a few more sunny days, the white snow will melt to allow the white bloodroots to bloom as they are usually the second wildflower to blossom in my woods.
Waiting for the Pretty White
When the rodent gave his forecast on Groundhog’s Day, many figure it is the midpoint of winter but this year, halfway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox actually occurred today instead. And Wisconsin’s groundhog Jimmy predicted six more weeks of winter. It would be nice if winter was really over in six weeks so we could see some spring wildflowers when the calendar says it is spring.
Maybe Halfway to Spring
The day was warmer than yesterday, but it was still below freezing as winter will keep its hold on the season for several more months preventing the early wildflowers, like these hepaticas, from making their appearance.
White Wildflowers Winter Delayed
If you look closely inside the left blossom, you can spot a bumblebee collecting nectar from the pink turtlehead flower. Turtlehead gets its common name from the blossoms that resemble the shape of a turtle’s head with its mouth partly open although the lips are hard to pry open and bumblebees are one of the few insects that have the strength to enter inside.
Bee Inside Turtlehead
Watch the bumblebee enter the turtlehead blossom.
The road ditches are filled with colorful summertime wildflowers, including the native lavender colored Wild Bergamot which look like shooting fireworks or pompoms (or just a bad hair day). The leaves smell minty and has been used to make mint tea. Also called Horsemint, Bee Balm, Mint-leaf and Bea-balm.
Wild Bergamot
The late July summer days have the native Black-eyed Susans blooming across the fields and road ditches. The flower head looks like spokes on a wooden wagon wheel when the yellow petals haven’t unfurled all the way yet.
Black-eyed Susan Wheel
This stem of Tuberous Grass-pink is full of blossoms as it slightly waves from the gentle breeze and adds a touch of color among grass.
Tuberous Grass-pink Blossoms
Found near lakes, ponds, swamps and wet areas, the native Swamp Candles appear like a burst of lights from a candle. Also called Bog Loosestrife, Lake Loosestrife, Earth Loosestrife, and Bulbil Loosestrife.
Swamp Candles
While hiking to see the orchids, it was easy to overlook tiny flowers on the ground when there were larger blossoms nearby that stood out more. One such tiny native flower, with blossoms only about a fourth of an inch, was this Racemed Milkwort (also known as Purple Milkwort).
Racemed Milkwort
When I was mowing today, I watched the spot where a native orchid had bloomed for several years until last year and so far, no sign of it this year either. So it was a good thing my sister recently took me on an adventure down a sandy bank and through some soggy ground to the orchids near bogs in her area to photo them. What I thought might have been Dragon’s Mouth, could be Rose Pogonia or Snake-mouth Orchid instead. I guess either way, it had the word mouth in the name and is still a pretty flower.
Maybe a Snake-mouth Orchid
