Part of the joy of spring is watching for those first green things, and they usually appear in an order that has to do with increasing light and temperature. There are spring wildflowers that are referred to as 'ephemerals' because they flower early, then disappear before the leafy canopy unfolds and the temperatures rise. As spring has not exactly been performing according to Hoyle, that is to say, proceeding in a measured, gentle fashion, it feels the early spring has itself been ephemeral.
We shall take a moment to mourn the all too swift passage of several of our lovely woodland friends who we shall not see again until next spring;
Spring Beauty blooming here amongst the trilliums is a tiny white treasure with pink stripes...
White Trout-lily with leaves of speckled brown and green and its yellow kissing cousin. There are many others, that if you blinked in the past few weeks, you might have missed their brief presence. However, as Spring unfolds, each week brings new things to see.
Here are some wildflowers that are blooming this week;
Our Provincial flower, the Trillium, continues to blanket hillsides and woodland floors, and if you look carefully you may see a red one. Whilst it is lovely to look upon, like the skunk cabbage, the red trillium is pollinated by carrion flies, which means that there will never be an Eau de Red Trillium at the perfume counter.
Rue Anemone is a delicate little plant with a passing resemblance to Hepatica. It offers pollen but no nectar to passing insects, and must be a bit particular about where it grows because I only saw it in two places.
Early meadow Rue begins like this..
and when it is all stretched up and unfurled, becomes this. Apparently male and female flowers are on separate plants, and the flowers above with the yellow dangly bits are male. The female plants do not have dangly bits in case you might be wondering.
The heart-shaped leaves of the Wild Ginger could be easily overlooked. They hug the ground and are often overshadowed by other foliage. Ginger has an unusual flower that is not only concealed beneath its leaves, but often covered by dirt and debris.
Bluebells are still blooming are other Borage family members; the Forget-me-not and Lungwort (below).
All 'worts', not to be confused with warts, indicate a medicinal use. In this case, Lungwort is for ailments of the respiratory system, although it has many other uses. It is somewhat terrifying to realize that in the 1600's plant usage was often determined by what part of the body the plant in some way resembled. The leaves of the Lungwort were thought to resemble lung tissue therefore...
Two-leaved Toothwort will be found near a creek or where it is swampy. It is a member of the large Mustard family, all of whose members have flowers with four petals. The black sheep of the Mustard clan at present, is Garlic Mustard whose progeny is too numerous to count and is trying for world domination.It is actually on Wanted posters.
courtesy of: http://londonmiddlesexmastergardeners.com/invader-month-garlic-mustard/
This is Antennaria neglecta, commonly known as Field Pussytoes. It is a native species that blooms early and is a host plant for the American Painted Lady butterfly. Despite the tenuous resemblance to a cat's paw, I think its pretty adorable.
I paid a short visit to the Sudden Forest Tract yesterday. I meant to stay for a while but the cloud of ravenous mosquitoes altered my plans. The sky went black, truly! I did however spot this Two-leaved Mitrewort for the first time. The flowers are tiny, fringed and quite lovely. Fascinating intricacy in a wee package.
This was the only clump that I saw but I will return when I am more prepared.
Jack-in-the-pulpit is one of my favorites. It can be a little challenging to find because it blends in so well. I did not realize that the flower and leaves emerged out of these speckled 'spikes'.
The Arum family is identified by its flower structures, the spadix and the spathe. In this case, 'jack' is the spadix, and the 'pulpit' is the spathe. Another member of this family flowers in late winter; the skunk cabbage.
Calla palustris, which is Latin for beautiful, of the marsh, is more commonly known as Water Arum or Wild Calla. Its spathe is white, and its spadix is clearly visible, setting it apart from its cousins. It is rather elegant I think. Apparently the little green spots, for which I am sure there is a complex botanical term, will shortly sprout tiny white flowers.
Small-flowered Crowfoot is the earliest spring arrival in the Buttercup clan. Its flower is less than 1/4 inch in diameter, but is a perfect little white star. I read that its leaf pattern is 'disorganized' but I think that it is just the tiniest bit rebellious and decided that it liked more than one shape of leaf in random order. So there. (maybe it is the teenager of the family)
Wood Anemone is related to the Crowfoot. Its bloom opens and closes with daylight and they can be found nestled at the feet of the trilliums.
Lest we think that all spring blooms are white, we shall finish for now, with the Large-flowered Bellwort. It looks like it is desperate for water because both the leaves and the flowers droop. The flowers are bell-shaped but appear too tired to open and perhaps this lead to its floral meaning of 'hopelessness'. So not a plant you want to gift anyone with. So why is it a 'wort'? Apparently useful in a poultice for boils and ulcers..just gets better and better.
Although violets are still blooming in the woods in all colours; yellow, white, blue and purple, you will not see these. Years ago a neighbour gave me a clump of these, and he called them 'Freckle face". They have naturalized in my yard, (as in spread like crazy) and give me joy in the spring.
In a cosmic sense, so many things are fleeting..ok maybe not winter, but sometimes things, people, experiences, are only here for a moment. But it is so hard to live in the moment because there is always something pushing or beckoning us send into the next moment, often before we are ready. Before we have a chance to savour the moment we are in. I tend to be an 'anticipator', (insert worrier). This means that in thinking about what could happen, I can lose focus on what is happening, and therefore lose the enjoyment of the present. I have been this way for 60 years now, it is a part of how I am made. With it comes anxiety and sometimes fear. For me, a significant therapy is the woodland trails. I wander, dawdle, and focus on its sights and sounds, large and small. I am able to replace anxiety with calm, and fear with wonder for a time. Life doesn't go away, it awaits my return, but my balance it restored.
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