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Yellow Trout Lily
April 2, 2026 So pleased today to come upon a blooming Yellow Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum), native to eastern North America. A plant that grows to 3 to 6 inches tall, with a bloom that is 1 to 3 inches wide. The tiny flower is composed of 6 tepals, which are 3 true petals and 3…
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Wood Poppies And Rain Drops
April 1, 2026 Wood Poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum) One of the native plants that bloom in early spring. Native to eastern North America from southwestern Ontario and Pennsylvania, down to Georgia and Alabama, out to Michigan and Missouri. There are two common names for this plant, Celandine Poppy, and Wood Poppy. There is another Celandine (similar…
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Sassafras Blooms
March 31, 2026 In bloom now in the woods, Sassafras (Sassafras albidum). A delightfully fragrant tree in all its parts, roots, bark, leaves, and twigs. These blooms will create drupes which are small, egg-shaped, shiny, blue-black berries with brilliant red stalks, or pedicels. Maturing in late summer. _______________________ If you would like to receive my…
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Blooms Of Red Maple
March 30, 2026 Early spring and the Red Maple trees (Acer Rubrum) are taking their place in the roll out of blooms, painting the woods with a blush of many shades of red and red-orange. These trees produce unpredictable flowers, some with all female flowers, some with all male flowers, and still other trees have…
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Dad’s Birthday
March 29, 2026 Today would have been my Dad’s 101st birthday. This picture is from the first time Mom and Dad got to meet our Granddaughter, and their Great-granddaughter. She is resting on my Mom’s shoulder, and Dad is reaching out to her tiny hand. So many special memories. _______________________ If you would like to…
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Pollen Cones Of Virginia Pine
March 27, 2026 Male pollen cones of Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana). Compared to the female seed cones that we are more familiar with, male pollen cones are smaller, softer, in larger clusters, than female cones. In central Virginia pollen cones release their yellow pollen into the wind from mid-March through May. The pollen cones soon…
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Unpredictable Purple Finches
March 26, 2026 A Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus). Here in central Virginia they sometimes come for winter’s nonbreeding season. Sometimes they don’t. They are said to be irruptive migrants, much like Robins (Turdus migratorius). They may come into your general area and stay for most of the winter season, or they may be just a…
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Virginia Bluebells Emerging
March 25, 2026 Just emerging. So small you need to know where to look to find them. Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica). Soon to be blooming with bright yellow Wood Poppies (Stylophorum diphyllum), both being native to the Eastern and Midwest United States, in rich, moist, deciduous woodlands. You will often find them growing side by…
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Spring Violets
March 24, 2026 Wild Pink (Silene caroliniana) Native to eastern North America. Host plant of Fritillary butterflies (Argynnini). _______________________ If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!