Woodland Wildflowers for Six on Saturday

Our woodland is alive with wildflowers. Once again, I'm including only native plants for this Six on Saturday post, because this is the most active time for wildflowers—before the trees fully leaf out. Trilliums are the stars of the show, including Great White Trillium (T. grandiflorum), in the photo above.



Red Trillium (T. erectum) is another thriller, and its naturally occurring patch (planted by nature) appears to be spreading.



It's said that when Mayapples' (Podophyllum peltatum) umbrella foliage flattens out, Morel mushrooms are nearby. I've never found the mushrooms in our woodland, though the Mayapples certainly form a colony on the hill.



The Mayapples aren't blooming yet, but the buds are about to break.



Next, I'm cheating and including a mix of Violets (Viola spp.) as one of my "six," since there are so many colors and several species on the property. I believe the purple and white ones shown here are V. sororia and the yellow is V. eriocarpa.



Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) is another reliable return visitor every year. Its unique form always fascinates me.



Most Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) range from pink to lavender to bright blue. But there's a patch of the less-common white ones in our woods, which I think are as beautiful as the others.

How about you? What's blooming in your garden and on your property? For more examples from around the world, visit Garden Ruminations.

Six Favorite Native Plants

We've had a bit of warmth, and the garden is popping. I'm cheating a little: I decided to include only native plants for this Six on Saturday post, and I'll also join in with Wildflower Wednesday.



Not many native plants are blooming on our property, but a few are starting, including Spring Beauties (Claytonia virginica). They're tiny flowers, about the size of my thumbnail, and they grow in clumps. The pink pollen and hardiness make this plant a unique and graceful, but tough, little bloomer. Another bonus: Rabbits don't eat it.



Virginia Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum) isn't blooming yet, but its foliage is as interesting as its flowers. It's a great, naturally occurring woodland rambler that dots the forest floor.

I don't recall seeing Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) in our little woodland before, although I've seen it many times during hikes in the area. (See the photo at the beginning of this post.) I hope this little clump will continue to thrive.



Though Climbing Prairie Rose (Rosa setigera), technically, isn't native in my exact location, it's native two counties to my south. And with the warming climate, it's commonly found in my area now. I planted this vine a few years ago--it's now growing up and over the arbor. Yay. I'll share more photos when it's blooming later in the summer.



I was surprised to see that Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)--a long-time, naturally occurring plant on my property--is blooming. I'd seen the foliage previously this spring, but now most of the plants have flowers, too. They're unique in many ways, including their shape, appearance, and downward-facing blooms.

For number six, let's celebrate Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica). I planted seeds for several patches of these a few years ago, and promptly discovered that rabbits eat them. Ugh. The next year, I placed caging around them, and the rabbits haven't caused much damage since. Last spring, I happily discovered they're now abundant throughout the woodland; uncaged! Are there too many for the rabbits to destroy? I don't know, but I think the buds are even prettier than the flowers.

For more examples of gardening fun around the world, visit Garden Ruminations for Six on Saturday. On Wednesday, head on over to Clay and Limestone for Wildflower Wednesday.

Happy Easter!

Wordless Discoveries After an August Rain

Lotus corniculatus with Cupido comyntas

Echinacea purpurea
(and grass)

Lobelia siphilitica

Solidago canadensis

Trifolium pratense

Helianthus spp.

Andropogon gerardii

Rubus allegheniensis

Monarda fistulosa

Asclepias syriaca

Sorghastrum nutans

Erigeron strigosus

Cirsium discolor

Lotus corniculatus

Sorghastrum nutans

Verbena hastata

Oenethera guara

Oenothera biennis

Rhus typhina

Wordless Wednesday

Woodland Awakenings

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:

 

Prairie Trillium (T. recurvatum)

Red Trillium (T. erectum)

Great White Trillium (T. grandiflorum)

Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)

Smooth Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum biflorum)

Mayapples (Podophyllum peltatum)

 Ramps (Allium tricoccum)

Virginia Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum)

False Rue Anemone (Enemion biternatum)

Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)

Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia)

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.

Happy Arbor Day!

Celebrating Wood Betony On This Wildflower Wednesday

Hiking this time of year is exciting in this part of the world. After the long, cold winter, wildflowers are emerging and the landscape is changing rapidly. On a recent hike, one of the new season plants we noticed was Wood Betony (Pedicularis canadensis). The foliage with its fern-like pattern has a reddish tint in the spring, which changes to green as the plant matures.



I've seen this plant in several parts of Wisconsin, including Door County, Kettle Moraine State Forest, and Lake Kegonsa State Park, not far from my home. It seems to prefer woodland edges and prairies near woodlands. The plant and its yellow flowers are arranged in a spiral rosette with white hairs, making the flower stalk look fuzzy. It's a favorite of bumblebees in the early part of the growing season.

Sometimes the blooms have a reddish brown tint, similar to the color of the spring foliage.

Other common names are Canadian Lousewort and Forest Lousewort, apparently because early colonizers believed that when cattle grazed on the plants they became infested with lice. This plant's native range covers most of the Eastern half of the United States.

If planning to incorporate it in a garden, it prefers full sun to part shade, mesic to dry conditions, and sandy to loamy soil that's somewhat acidic. It grows to 12 inches in height and tends to grow in colonies. It's partially parasitic, so it grows well with other native plants and grasses. Here in my area, it tends to bloom in April-May, but I've seen it still blooming in June further north.

Soon the Wood Betony will be blooming prolifically in one of my favorite wildflower settings. The bees will be very happy, and so will I. Thanks to Gail at Clay and Limestone for hosting Wildflower Wednesday. Head on over to participate!