Wildflowers

In Pennsylvania starting in as soon as Feburary the first signs of the coming spring begin to bloom. Skunk Cabbage is usually the first ones up. Followed by the introduced Coltfoot and Harbinger of Spring.  Then around the end of April the woods come alive with spring wildflowers. Virginia Bluebells, Trout Lily, Trilliums, Bloodroot and Cut-leaved Toothwort are just a few. This blooming continues on till around the end of October when Whitch Hazel blooms its odd flowers.  These offer just another aspect of the outdoors for one to enjoy. Even as your looking at the flowers you find insects that can only be found on those flowers. You quickly see the balance of things. Even on the macro scale. I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I enjoyed taking them. This page is still under construction so check back later for updates.

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Pitcher Plant

Virginia Bluebell

Cardinal Flower

This plant has adapted to capturing insects in it's pitcher shaped leaves. Like sundews their habitat lacks soil limiting nitrogen necessary for plant life Insects that become trapped in the "pitcher" are digested enzymatically Flower stalks are from 1-2 foot tall and rise from the center of the plant

Virginia Bluebells are one of the early wildflowers. In Western Pa they are found blooming from March - May. Although any time I have seen them it has been late March into mid April. Leaves look velvety and are 1-8 inches long Stems are from 8-28 inches tall. This plant grows in rich, moist soil, often in flood plains.

This is one of the most stunning of wildflowers. The scarlet color has only one equal, Bee Balm. The Cardinal Flower grows in wet areas often along strem banks and does so in mid-late sumer. It is in the Lobelia family and grows from and grow to be 2-4 foot tall.

Trout Lily

Canada Lily

Turk's Cap Lily

This early lily was named because it blooms around the time the trout begin to run Trout Lilies bloom from March-May but it seems April is the right time to find these small & brilliant lilies. The flower itself is 1-2 inches long and grows in a 8-12 inch stem. I have found patchs of the forest floor absolutley covered with the leaves of Trout Lily. However, only a small percentage of the plants would be blooming

This lily varies in color from red to yellow. 2 or more flowers 2-3 inches across are purple spotted inside and grow on 2-5 foot tall stem. This plant needs cool, moist habitats in woods, edges of bogs, and moist meadow Plant blooms early to late summer.

Turk's Caps grow from 3-8 foot tall, which makes it the tallest of the red-orange lilies Brown velvety stamens project 2-3 inches below the drooping flower. Shiney leaves, 2-6 inches long grow around the stem in a whorl. Turk's Cap Lily grows in moist & marshy. Almost every single station I have found have been found within 20 yards or a creek or some other water source This lily blooms in mid-late summer.

Bog Bean

Skunk Cabbage

Turtlehead

Bogbeans stalk is 12 inches high. It blooms from April-July but I seem to find them in June while looking for orchids in bogs. So, it goes to say that it grows in bogs, pond margines, and shallow water.

I find this plant pretty amazing. I have often found it blooming through the snow Skunk Cabbage roots will actually heat the ground up around through chemical reaction allowing it to thaw out the ground and start the growing process months ahead of other plants. The flower is from 3-6 inches high with purple & green streaks or spots. After the flower blooms leaves appear and grow from 1-5 feet long. If the leaves are broken they produce an odor that is very disagreeable (unless you like skunk) Once while help with botony collection for the Carnegie Museum of Natural History We found many patches of Skunk Cabbage that Black Bear had been feeding in. It blooms from late winter to early spring.

I photographed these plants about 5 feet from where the Cardinal Flower was photographed. Which shows that this plant is found in the same type of habitat. Turtlehead has smooth leaves and grows from 1-6 feet tall. Leaves are in pairs along the stem and the flowers are white-pinkish and are around 1 inches long. Again, like the Cardinal Flower the bloom in mid-late summer.