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| Violets (Viola spp.) |
The native plant growing season has begun, and many old friends await in the "wild" area of our property. This is the time of year to delight in new discoveries and welcome reunions. It seems appropriate to celebrate these woodland wildflowers, and the trees that protect them, on this Arbor Day.
Some ephemerals and wildflowers are blooming, while many more will burst forth in the days ahead. Here are just a few fun finds during the past few days:
This is a special portion of the lot that we leave to nature. We don't plant or plan it (with the exception of a few Virginia Bluebells I planted several years ago). We simply remove invasive species--Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata), Creeping Bellflower (Campanula rapunculoides), and a few others--and let it be.
More reawakenings will greet us in the days ahead. It's always a treasured, magical portion of the growing season.
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| Prairie Trillium (T. recurvatum) |
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| Red Trillium (T. erectum) |
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| Great White Trillium (T. grandiflorum) |
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| Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) |
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| Smooth Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum biflorum) |
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| Mayapples (Podophyllum peltatum) |
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| Ramps (Allium tricoccum) |
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| Virginia Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum) |
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| False Rue Anemone (Enemion biternatum) |
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| Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense) |
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| Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia) |
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| Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) |
This is a special portion of the lot that we leave to nature. We don't plant or plan it (with the exception of a few Virginia Bluebells I planted several years ago). We simply remove invasive species--Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata), Creeping Bellflower (Campanula rapunculoides), and a few others--and let it be.
More reawakenings will greet us in the days ahead. It's always a treasured, magical portion of the growing season.
And you're off and running with a glorious spring, Beth!
ReplyDeleteYes, it's in full swing now. This part of the world is a great place to be from now through October. ;-)
DeleteWishing you a Happy Arbor week. Loved all your photos.
ReplyDeleteThank you, that's so kind. Happy Arbor Day and week. :)
DeleteSo beautiful, I can't really pick a favorite - I really love the trilliums and the Solomon's seal. How lovely to walk out in such a natural wild & woodland spot.
ReplyDeleteYes, the back plot was part of what sold me, personally, on the property many years ago. It's nice to have cultivated and wild areas here. :)
DeleteHi, I just told Jeremy we will need to for our wildflower hike on the Ice Age Trail in the Blue Hills very soon, all our spring beauties will be out and about.
ReplyDeleteYes, so many native ephemerals are putting on a show now. Enjoy your hike!
DeleteOhh, I love the spring ephemerals and violas. Amelia
ReplyDeleteHi Amelia: They are so special, aren't they? Happy spring!
DeleteIt must be a delight to have a wild area of garden to walk through and enjoy native plants. The trilliums must look great when they’re in bloom. I’ve seen Mayapples in another blog post, they are beautifully strange - do they flower?
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine: It is a delight! The wild area is part of what sold us on the property. Yes the Mayapples are fun, and yes they flower. Here's a photo of a bloom from a previous year:
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These area all very exotic plants to a lifelong Southern Californian. Fascinating and so very different from what grows here.
ReplyDeleteYes, our ecosystems, climates, and other conditions are very different. Sometimes, however, I'm amazed at how many plants we have in common considering those differences.
DeleteI love that you list these as old friends, Beth. Aren't they just wonderful?
ReplyDeleteYes, they are wonderful, and they do seem like old friends. It's always a joy to see them again each spring. :)
DeleteThere is a wonderful variety of wildflowers on your property. I'm impressed. Our woods seem to be mostly thorn bushes, thorn trees and poison ivy. When we were younger, we tried clearing off some of the weeds during winter but we gave up. Now the horses at least keep the undergrowth to a minimum.
ReplyDeleteThis property is not large--roughly half an acre--which makes it relatively easy to keep the invasive plants at bay. It's such a joy to hunt around for "old friends" each spring and often find new native plants.
DeleteI absolutely adore all your natives. It is amazing how many you have I miss from my old garden. A few grow here now.
ReplyDeleteIt's a wonderful lot, Donna. Looking out the back windows is what sold me on this place so many years ago. It will be hard to leave. My heart aches thinking about it, so I understand your thoughts. <3
DeleteThe waterleaf markings are beautiful. I wish our western native had similar ones. That white violet with the purple center is a favorite I remember fondly from my Wisconsin days.
ReplyDeleteThe Violets are having an exceptional year. We have several species in the back garden/woods, so I feel blessed.
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