A Dazzling Display of Forest Wildflowers

Red Trillium had a good showing in the old woods

It was impossible to keep on top of everything as it happened this spring. The wildflowers in the old woods had gotten off to a slow start, but then unseasonably warm temperatures at the onset of May caused everything to explode out of the ground. Leaves also came out almost overnight and transformed naked winter-like tree tops into a shady canopy.  The earliest wildflowers like Spring Beauty, Hepatica and Bloodroot enjoyed an extended bloom time, while virtually all of the second wave blooms were much shorter lived.  

Large-flowered Bellwort with its unusual drooping and leaf-like flower

Trout Lily also known as Dog-tooth Lily

Toad Shade - some years it's the first to bloom - this year it's way down on the list

Toad Shade Trillium flowers sometimes have green petals 

One of our rarest flowers - Rue Anemone

False Rue Anemone

Jack-in-the-Pulpit is enjoying a long blooming period despite the warm weather

Red Trillium at the height of its power

Close to the ground and often missed - Wild Ginger flowers

Wild Ginger 

One of the last Bloodroot flowers to keep its petals 

Spring Beauties 

Dutchman's Breeches were rare this spring

Twinleaf bloomed for a very short time

Round-leaved Yellow Violet

White Sweet Violet

Long-spurred Violet

Goldenseal

White Trillium in all its glory

Foam Flower

Miterwort or False Bishop's Cap

Moosewood or Northern Striped Maple

Scarlet Elf Cup - a Fungus

Fiddleheads of the Christmas Fern

Fiddleheads of the Long-leaf Beech Fern

The forest's official greeter