Sunday, May 01, 2016

Spring Ephemerals on a Cool and Blustery Day

From yesterday's 16 miler at Jay Cooke State Park:
Spring Beauty (Clayton virginica)
We didn't make it half a mile before I was stopping to snap photos of some of my favorite spring wildflowers, or "old friends" as I called them to my friend Shaun.

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) with Trout Lily leaves in the background
Trout Lily/Dogtooth Violet (Erythronium species)

Hepatica (Hepatica americana)
Hepatica (Hepatica americana)
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) The leaves clasp the
flower stalk and will fully open once the flowers are done blooming.
Unknown shrub (for the moment).  Leaves were barely emerging but there were plenty of flowers!

Possibly Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica)
Newcomb's has this to say "Yellowish flowers in short, dense spikes; blooms in early spring as the leaves unfold. Leaflets with blunt, coarse teeth, the terminal leaflet short-stalked or stalkless. 2-6' high. Rocky woods, w.N. Eng. to Kan. south."

Shaun insisted on a photo at this bridge.
I think I have a similar one from last year about this time. 
Spring Beauty (Clayton virginica)
Spring Beauty (Clayton virginica)
Catkin
St. Louis River was roaring! 
Looking downriver to the Swinging Bridge
Route included the following trails: Summer; Bearchase; Lost Lake (lower and upper); Spruce; Silver Creek and Ridge.