Thinking about Mayapples

While doing some “housework” with my photographs this afternoon I came upon this image of a Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum). Not remarkable on its own, but with the knowledge of the date it is something to take note of. That date, just five days from today. The end of February. February 26, 2018. That really took me by surprise. After noticing that date, I immediately dropped everything and went out to the forest edge where the Mayapples live but found nothing. Not a hint.

But I’ll be watching. Patiently waiting to see what appears to be little umbrellas emerging from the soil. Watching and waiting for those parasols to spring up and begin their unfurling.

I’ll be looking for the double leaves that indicate a single flower will make its presence known in the axil of those two leaves. Only one leaf, no flower. Soon, spring.

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Brenda Clements Jones

Brenda is a certified Virginia Master Naturalist, a Habitat Defender for Shenandoah National Park, and a devoted fan of Mother Nature. She lives in a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Shenandoah National Park, and hikes up to the higher elevations of her mountain often to see what nature is up to. Her constant hiking companion is a camera that captures nature as it unfolds through the seasons. It’s her goal to share the natural world around her through her photographs.