Since my first Spring walk in the woods, I have gone exploring at least once a week, and sometimes every day! I am developing quite an interest in the woodland plants I'm finding and having such fun photographing and learning about them! So here are some of my favorites. :) But before we enter the woods, I had to show you the amazing growth of this Japanese Knotweed! I'd say it beats even my Castor Bean plants for rapid growth! It is very invasive and almost impossible to get rid of, but I rather like the look of it and admire its hardiness. I've seen smaller patches of it elsewhere and it only grows to about 5 feet, but here it reaches over 10 feet high! This picture was taken about May 30th. And this was taken May 16th! There are so many ferns in the woods that I don't pay much attention to them. However, I loved this picture in the dappled sunlight! This is probably the most numerous flower in our woods...the Canadian Bunchberry or Bunchberry Dogwood (Cornus canadensis). Immature flowers are green, but then turn white. I can't figure out what this plant is. The stems are quite prickly and remind me of raspberry bushes, but the flowers are quite interesting! This one has slightly different leaves, but the same flowers. Blue-bead Lily or Clinton's Lily (Clintonia borealis). (Named after former NY governor, DeWitt Clinton (1769-1828). Hunters in North Quebec used to rub the roots on their traps to attract bears. I wonder if it really works? And speaking of bears...our neighbors took this picture recently. They estimate him to be 300-350 pounds. Another neighbor has his paw prints on the side of her house (he was looking for the bird feeder)! Our dumpster was raided one night, but he doesn't usually come around because of the dogs. I was thrilled to find a few small patches of Yellow Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum). I read from a few different sources that they are actually somewhat uncommon in Maine, and that the pink Lady's Slippers are seen more often. Only one is fully open yet... This little one is aptly named Starflower (Trientalis borealis)! And many thanks to Eliza Waters for helping me identify this lovely flower (Maianthemum canadense)! It actually goes by several names including False or Canadian Lily-of-the-valley, Canada Mayflower, Canadian May-lily and Two-leaved Solomonseal. It is sweetly fragrant, too!
12 Comments
Glenda Webster
6/6/2018 12:14:49 pm
Thank you for the walk in the woods. I'm originally from central NY and always enjoyed spring after our long, cold winter and your blog today reminded me of that. I now live in south Texas on the Mexico border and it is HOT. Our winters here are warmer than some summers in NY. I'm really not complaining - I love it here, but I must admit to sometimes getting homesick for the nice temperate climate, especially in spring.
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Those yellow lady slippers are wonderful! A rare beauty. Lady slippers require a symbiotic fungi in order to grow, so are hard to grow in gardens and if transplanted, will likely die. Like in a museum, appreciate but don't touch! ;)
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Nancy
6/6/2018 05:32:08 pm
Just love seeing your pictures. About 30+ years ago I rented a house from a Prof. from U of MA. He was fascinating and his knowledge of wild flowers was incredible. He gave me a book that he wrote about Wild Flowers of Maine. I have searched the internet to find the name and availability of the book.No luck. I even checked his obit to see if it might have been mentioned. I think you would have enjoyed him. Nancy
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Elsa
6/7/2018 12:39:25 am
I actually saw some of those same flowers when exploring the Gooseberry Falls State Park in Minnesota this past weekend! I was struck by the Canadian Bunchberry but didn't know what it was! Thanks for helping me identify it!
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Veleria
6/7/2018 06:06:45 pm
Your pictures are so lovely. Thank you for sharing them with all of us.
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AuthorI am a passionate gardener and seed-saver, who also enjoys playing the violin and accordion, running, spending time with my 4 golden retrievers, keeping chickens, photography, and reading. Archives
March 2019
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