Woodland Beauties. April 10, 2012
Posted by littlebangtheory in Art and Nature, macro photos.Tags: Dutchman's breeches, Spring Beauty, Trailing Arbutus, trillium, Trouy Lily, woodland wildflowers
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In the chill, dappled light of our New England woodlands, the pageant of Spring begins with tiny bits of color amongst last Autumn’s composting leaves.
Walk slowly through the striped landscape of slanting sun and tree trunk shadows. Stop frequently, and if you have the time, wait for those shadows to sun-dial across the scene; you might be surprised at how quickly this happens, with the cool darkness thrown by treetops moving perceptibly while you hold your breath.
It’s in those shifting slivers of perpetual sunrise that little fires of white and yellow and incongruous maroon twinkle to life, ignited by the warmth and light like waking embers in a rising breeze.
The shy blossoms of Trailing Arbutus peek from beneath inauspicious leaves:
Newly tailored Dutchman’s Breeches flutter on the lines of their still-short racemes:
Spring Beauty ( a Claytonia, in the Purslane family) is abundant just now, but its tiny blossoms close tightly and nod demurely in the early morning cold. Trout Lily will blanket this area in a couple of weeks, but for now they’re just pairs of fingerling leaves.
And Trillium is about to make its blood-red entrance to the Woodland Ball, though I haven’t yet seen any fully opened flowers:
I actually went to this spot to look for an uncommon Yellow Trillium, expecting to be early, but remembering that I was a bit late last year and not wanting to miss it twice in a row. These sorts of woodland flowers last only until the leaves above them unfurl – then the show will move to the fields and meadows and roadside spaces.
Look for more woodland wonders in the next few weeks, and I will, too. 🙂
Dutchman’s Breeches! April 11, 2010
Posted by littlebangtheory in Art and Nature, macro photos.Tags: Dutchman's breeches
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I found these delicate litlle wildflowers along side the North River in Colrain:
They sit in clusters atop fragile stalks issuing from lacy foliage:
These are a bit earlier than I’ve seen them in past years, perhaps because of last week’s record warm temperatures.
And so begins our local wildflower season!
…And Some Other Flowers. May 2, 2009
Posted by littlebangtheory in Art and Nature.Tags: Dutchman's breeches, peeriwinkle, trout lily, violets, wildflowers
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The trees are greening up, and the forests and fields are dotted with color.
Periwinkle:
Trout lily:
Dutchman’s breeches:
Violets:
…and some elegant little white guys which I used to know the names of, though I’ve forgotten:
That shamrock-shaped leaf was relevant to its identification, but I’m not inclined to look it up right now. I have sunflowers to pot and dinner on my mind. 😉