" I have come from the spring-woods,
From the fragrant solitudes..."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
It is just a week short of a year since the first time I ventured into the woods and wrote a post about it (wow, I've learned a lot since that happy day!). The woods are slowly but surely coming to life and I am beginning to recognize some old friends!
One of the few patches of snow left in the woods...
An emerging Red Trillium (Trillium erectum)...
It shouldn't be long now until they'll be in flower!
Pretty sure this is Bluebead Lily (Clintonia borealis)...
Horsetails (Equisetum) are just starting to emerge...
Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) has been in bloom around here for a while, but this is the first time I've found it in our woods this spring. Unfortunately, they had already started to close in the afternoon shade, and the lighting was horrible for taking pictures too. I do have some much better photos of the flowers in our yard, but I'm saving those for a future post. 😉
I don't normally get all that excited about grass, but this patch was such a verdant green! This area is still very wet, so much so that I didn't dare step off the fallen log I was balancing on. My whole boot was nearly swallowed up last time I tried that! 😁
Ferns are coming up everywhere...
I believe these bushes are a kind of Currants (Ribes spp.). Theirs were the first leaves to appear, with buds starting to burst in mid-April!
The Maples are in bloom. I wish I could have gotten some close-ups of the flowers, which are really beautiful!
If anyone knows what this is, please let me know! The plant is a shrub (I think), quite a bit smaller than Speckled Alder, and with smaller catkins. This is obviously the female flower...
I found several large patches of Twinflower (Linnaea borealis), which makes me wonder why I only managed to see a very few flowers in bloom last summer, and that only once! This is now my favorite woodland wildflower and I am eagerly looking forward to seeing it again!
Some baby Starflowers (Trientalis borealis)...
I'm really looking forward to another happy summer exploring the woods. I know I still have much to learn and discover. At least I no longer have to fear getting myself lost like I did a couple times last fall...I've finally accustomed myself to keep in mind the general direction I'm heading and in what direction home is! 😁
Spring in the woods is a lovely time with surprises around every turn of the path. Lovely to share yours!
ReplyDeleteYes indeed! :)
DeleteIt wonderful to see flowers in the wild....these are treasures to be bought here! Thank you for sharing the 'wild' newly emerging flora in 'your neck of the woods'.
ReplyDeleteWildflowers are so special...and to think there was a time when I didn't pay much attention to them! I imagine your woods are filled with a sorts of lovelies too. One of my favorite books is Edith Holden's 'Country Diary of and Edwardian Lady'...so I picture England as a sort of botanical paradise! :)
DeleteWe do tend to take for granted our own local flora and fauna, and wonder with amazement what can be found far away. I am lucky to live now in the Mendips, where the variation in geology, and proximity to the sea, means there are some beauties to enjoy. Also we are in a relatively low populated area with non intensive farming.
DeleteThat's true...I catch myself doing it all the time, although I've learned to value what we do have up here. Your area sounds very beautiful!
DeleteThank goodness spring has truly arrived in your neighborhood. Such a good feeling to see the plants begin to emerge.
ReplyDeleteIt sure is! Now hopefully it will warm up a little soon!
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