ever seen bloodroot in WMNF?

[forestgnome]

Dreaming of all that is spring I've been looking at my wildflower guide and bloodroot has caught my eye. It's an early-spring bloomer and the guide says it's a short-lived flower, and only opens up in sunlight. No wonder I've never seen it! It looks very pretty.

Have you ever seen this? If so, please don't say online exactly where, maybe just the general area, such as "southern slopes of eastern Sandwich Range". Bloodroot is listed as a state watch species in NH.

happy trails

 

[Tim Seaver]

I haven't photographed it in NH, but it is widespread here in VT. It is one of the very first wildflowers to appear, before purple trillium and trout lily, if I remember correctly. It is easy to spot, sometimes growing in large clumps on moist banks and low areas.

 

[Kevin Rooney]

I'll second what Tim said - it's very common in VT. Don't remember seeing it in NH, but doesn't mean I haven't. I think if I were looking it would in places where you find lots of ladyslippers, like in the Pemi past the bridge on the way to the Bonds. Also, down low along the Randolph Path, where's there often a an early display of windflowers.

Speaking of wildflowers - I did a hike yesterday where an early display was absolutely stunning. Hope to post them later in the week.

 

[gaiagirl]

Behind the Conway Rec. Center where our offices used to be there is a lot of it. Also, one Naturalist here believes the Humphrey's Ledge area supports Bloodroot.

We have a number of spring plant prorgrams coming up, which I will post here as the time nears (it may not be until June this year!! ).

 

[Tim Seaver]

An interesting plant , to be sure.

 

[forestgnome]

Tim, thanks for posting this picture. It's better than what I've seen in guides!

What a pretty wildflower. Can't wait to hunt for it.

happy trails

 

[poison ivy]

I've seen bloodroot twice -- tons in Massachusetts along a section of the M&M trail and a few in New Hampshire while hiking the trails around Passaconaway last spring.

- Ivy

 

[Cath]

"I" have it in one of the gardens in Sandwich

The flowers open before the leaves fully unfurl, and only last a few days.
The leaves are beautiful in their own right, and last quite a while thru Summer. Difficult to propagate from seed, but can be done from division after it has gone dormant in the Fall. Prefers moist but well-drained soil & lightly shaded areas.

I have seen a good amount of it in a plot of the WMNF land located near a section of Rumney & Ellsworth town line.

 

[bogorchis]

Grows well in MA in the woods and in gardens!

One of the early spring ephemerals - the flower only lasts a day or two. But, the leaves are a great shade of gray green. I know where it grows around the Concord MA area, and I have it all over my garden. It spreads by seed. The root which is a rhizome has a reddish juice in it, which the natives probably used for dye. I think that it is a neat plant!

Trailing arbutus is also another early plant, and this grows along the Wapack Trail. It is the state flower of MA.