We haven’t seen a cloud in the sky here for the last two weeks, so I apologize for the harsh lighting in some of these shots.
The many different native white flowered trees have just started blooming. Soon they will brighten the roadsides in every town in the county. This is a cherry (Prunus) but I’m not sure which one.
The magnolias didn’t have room for even one more flower this year. They’ve been beautiful.
Last weekend I saw what a couple of well-placed magnolias, a cherry tree or two, and a few hundred daffodils can look like. It was an amazing spring display, but I couldn’t help wondering what it would look like in the summer.
I saw a few white trilliums (Trillium grandiflorum) in the woods near the woodland garden in the previous photo, but I’m not sure if they are natural or if they had been planted. However they got there, they were very beautiful and are rarely seen in our woods.
If you want to see a rare and most beautiful display of white trilliums and other flowers, check out Jerry’s blog, Quiet Solo Pursuits, by clicking here.
Japanese Andromeda flowers (Pieris japonica) resemble many others, including grape hyacinth and blueberry.
In the garden fern leaved bleeding heart (Dicentra eximia) has just started blooming. This is one of my favorites.
I saw more coltsfoot plants (Tussilago farfara) in one place than I ever have on this trail recently. They extended well out of the photo to the right. Coltsfoot has just about finished the end of its blooming period.
I think that what I thought were native rue anemones (Thalictrum thalictroides) are actually false rue anemones (Enemion biternatum,) which are also native. The leaf shape helps identify each plant but I want to find them both so I can be sure. Both are just starting their blooming period. As if that isn’t complicated enough, there are also wood anemones (Anemone quinquefolia ,) that resemble the other two. Maybe I should just say that this photo of some type of anemone.
Native ginger (Asarum canadense) has just started blossoming as well but the flower is hard to see. This plant isn’t related to the ginger we buy in stores, but Native Americans dried and ground the root and used it as a seasoning. Scientists believe that the plants may contain poisonous compounds and do not recommend eating any part of them. The plant also contains two different types of antibiotics and was used as a poultice to heal wounds by both Native Americans and early settlers.
It’s a small and not very colorful flower, but interesting. The reason the flower is so close to the ground is because it is pollinated by flies that look for the carcasses of dead animals after they emerge in the spring. That is also why the flower is the color of decomposing flesh-it fools the flies into pollinating it.
The flowers of Norway maples (Acer platanoides) appear well after those of red maples. These trees are native to Europe and are considered an invasive species. White sap in the leaf stem (petiole) is one way to tell Norway maples from sugar maples, which have clear sap.
I’ve seen a lot of beautiful man-made gardens but I think this display of dandelions and ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea) is every bit as beautiful.
What is lovely never dies, but passes into other loveliness, star-dust, or sea-foam, flower or winged air. ~ Thomas Bailey Aldrich
Thanks for stopping in.
I love that Japanese Andromeda…so pretty. Nice post, Allen.
Thanks Scott. The andromeda is common here. I don’t know if it would make it through a Utah summer.
A true garden of delights. That rotting flesh flower of the native ginger is fascinating.
Thanks Scott. native ginger is a fascinating plant that we don’t sse too often here. I know it grows in Virginia, so you probably have it there.
The white trillium is lovely. It is rare here as well.
I bought some plants recently and am going to plant them when the danger of frost has passed.
oh my, what a spring bounty! I love the photo of the garden of magnolias and daffodils. That image is exactly what I picture as “spring bursting forth…”
That was quite a garden. It’s privately owned, but they let the public in to see it in spring.
Your photos really capture the color and the joy that is spring. I loved going on your walk-about to see what is in bloom today.
Thanks Charlie. It’s fun to see what is blooming in other states.
Very pretty collection of spring flowers! I especially like that bleeding heart and of course the last photo of the ground ivy and dandelions.
Thanks Montucky! I like the yellow and purple combination of dandelions and ground ivy, and the bleeding heart is an old fashioned favorite. They are real easy to grow and ask for nothing.
I was visiting friends in VA today and they had plenty of ground ivy. They also had lots of other things as well including wild ginger. I didn’t take any photos because a) it was rainy, and b) I left the camera back at the hotel.
Too bad you didn’t have the camera. It’s fun to see what’s growing in other states.
One day I will learn to not leave it behind.
Beautiful, beautiful pictures! It’s so nice to have 2 “springs” this spring. Your’s differs considerably from ours.
Thanks! They really are quite different and it’s an interesting thing to see.
What a wonderful collection of photos.
They gladden the heart!
Thank you Sandy. What would we do without springtime?
Fantastic magnolia.
That is a beautiful tree!
Glad you’ve had some sun. We had some for a few days but its back to rain now. I have to admit the wild flowers are my favourites, no matter how good the gardener I don’t think you can beat Mother Nature 🙂
We’ve had too much sun and need the rain. Thankfully it just started raining a while ago. Wild flowers are my favorites too. Some of the best displays I’ve seen were “weeds.”
How I envy the ability to grow the gloriously simple flower of the trillium.
The pierius is just gorgeous. We’re growing ‘Silver Flame’ this year. Nice blog.
Thank you Patrick. Trillium roots can be bought at any garden center these days, so why not give them a try? You might be surprised! Both white and red seem to like soil that is constantly moist and like to grow where they get full sun in spring before the leaves appear on trees.
Thanks for the shout out! And thanks for the beautiful flowers!
You’re welcome Jerry. Nobody should miss that trillium display!
We have had sunny weather now for a while and I know what you mean about the harsh light when taking photos. There is so much color out there, the serviceberry bloomed here and they didn’t have room for one more flower either.
🙂
So far it’s been a great spring here Chris. I’m glad that you’re finally seeing some decent weather too, and hope that your flood waters have receded.
Beautiful shots. This is an amazing time of the year for the variety of colors an sizes of the blooming flowers and trees.
Thanks Mike. It really is an amazing time of year-always my favorite season.
Your spring flower collection is beautiful. I really enjoyed sharing the photographs to have a little taste of your spring.
Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed them. Spring seems to go on forever here this year!