More Bloomers
The Redbuds are blooming prolifically along our highways, but the dogwoods have yet to flower. I take great pleasure in watching the seasonal progression of blooming plants and trees.
Red Maples flowered a few weeks ago but are now covered with winged seeds. Both blooms and seeds give the trees a delicate red wash. I hesitate to point this out to friends because they generally say, “What blooms?” I guess they expect something more dramatic, perhaps like a magnolia blossom, when I say that the maples are blooming. The red maples remain a private pleasure for me though.
Henbit deadnettle, ground ivy, and bird’s-eye speedwell have been common in my yard and at other locations for a while. Crane’s beak is beginning to bloom, along with madder and vetch.
I have yet to walk the Guild Trail or visit a nearby site known as The Eagles Nest. Craven’s house should be productive soon as well. I also have a trip planned to Little Cedar Mountain in Marion County.
I am sure blooms are beginning at Sitton’s Gulch in Cloudland Canyon State Park, along the trails at Desoto State Park, near Mentone, Alabama. and at Savage Gulf State Park on the Cumberland Plateau. I have likely missed the spring blooms at the Shirley Miller Wildflower Trail at The Pocket in Walker County, Georgia. All of these places are well worth a visit.
For more information on any of these wildflowers, check https://www.wildflower.org/
Following is a report on my trip to Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center, on Saturday morning, March 23. I also visited Audubon Acres that afternoon. That report will be forthcoming.
Bloodroot – Sanguinaria canadensis, most have seed capsules. They were in flower last week. Cut-leaved Toothwort – Cardamine concatenata Dutchman’s Breeches – Dicentra cucullaria, prolific just off the trail at Freeman’s Hollow Eastern Redbud – Circus canadensis Foamflower – I am uncertain of the species but listed it as Heartleaf foamflower in iNaturalist. I am waiting for the expert evaluators to approve or decline that identification. Forkleaf Toothwort – Cardamine dissecta Lenten Rose – Helleborus orientalis, Prolific, introduced. Star Chickweed – Stellaria pubera Trillium, Little Sweet Betsy - Trillium cuneatum, only a few. Twinleaf – Jeffersonia diphilla, some have flowers and others have seed capsules. Violets – blue, yellow, and white. I haven’t the patience to figure out which of the many species are present. Virginia Bluebells – Mertensia virginica, blooming prolifically where last week they were mostly foliage. Virginia Spring Beauties – Claytonia virginica. Yellow Trout Lillies – Erythronium Americanum, plentiful but only a few are blooming, having flowered last week. Having visited this natural area several times over the years, I can say with confidence that many species of wildflowers will bloom there over the coming weeks.