Tag: Wildflower

Picture of the Day for April 29, 2015

Over a blanket green, dainty white flowers extend upward on slender stems and tremble in the breeze and therefore is sometimes called Wind Flowers, although the more common name is Wood Anemone for Anemone quinquefolia.

The flowers usually stay open during the day but close during the night to protect the male and female parts of the flower while it is not being pollinated and since I was out late evening, the flowers were closing up but that allowed me to see the pinkish color on the outer layer. Wood Anemone tends to grow in thick mats, spreading via rhizomes. A single plant may take 5 years or longer to flower, so often only a few flowers are seen among the leaves.

Wood Anemone

Wood Anemone

Picture of the Day for April 17, 2015

The pink striped petals of the Spring Beauty wildflower are a welcome sign of the arrival of spring, even if there is a mention of snow in forecast.  The flower is one of the most common native perennials in eastern North America which grows small roots that remind people of tiny potatoes, hence the nickname “Fairy Spuds” and can be eaten, although it would take a lot of them for a meal!

The Pink of the Spring Beauty

The Pink of the Spring Beauty

 

Picture of the Day for April 12, 2015

The snow must have fallen on the robin’s tail this past week and now it is officially spring since I finally spotted the first wildflower open yesterday and the frogs are singing. The flower was partially open yesterday but fully open this morning. The Sharp-loded Hepatica is the first wildflower to open in my woods each spring and since the blossom is less than an inch across, they can be easily overlooked since the foliage comes after they bloom. It was windy this morning so trying to capture the tiny blossom swaying on the hairy stalk was a challenge.

The First Wildflower of Spring

The First Wildflower of Spring

Picture of the Day for January 9, 2015

The sun was out today but by the time I finished the chores outside, I had enough of the cold wind chills that a walk through the woods did not appeal to me, especially since there wouldn’t be any wildflowers to stumble upon in the fields or woods. Other than a few stray oak leaves with a slight hint of orange, there is not a lot of color in the snowy landscape so I just have to count down the days until the first spring wildflower appears but I will have a longer wait before the late summer flowers, like the wild bergamot to brighten the road ditches.

Purple Color in the Road Ditches

Purple Color in the Road Ditches