The official 2010 Spring wildflowers thread...

[1HappyHiker]

Below is a photo of Coltsfoot that was seen along the Smarts Brook Trail on 02-May-2010. Would many folks consider Coltsfoot to be more in the category of an invasive weed rather than a wildflower? I think it's often mistaken for a dandelion. As I understand it, this is a non-native species that came here with early European settlers, probably for use as a cough suppressant.

 

[DSettahr]

Got a few from our hike up Windham High Peak in the Catskills this past weekend.

Feel free to correct me on any IDs…

Toothwort (I think):

Common Wood Sorrel:

Not sure what these are. They look kind of like bleeding hearts:

Trout Lilly:

Red/Purple Trillium:

Serviceberry:

 

[nartreb]

What a difference a couple of days makes!

Saturday morning I'd seen mostly these:

And a some of these:

But this evening there were plenty of these:

Also, here's a sample of the white periwinkle, though these may be garden plants, since there a couple of old cellars very close by.

Retracing my steps at dusk, I also noticed an incredibly dense bed of trout lily (well past peak) and several jack-in-the-pulpits that I had completely overlooked on Saturday.

 

[Mohamed Ellozy]

On Mount Prospect, Holderness, a Painted Trillium opening up

 

[DSettahr]

Not sure what these are. They look kind of like bleeding hearts:

Figured out that these are most likely Dutchman's Breeches.

 

[grouseking]

Does it have to be New England?

Mexico!

 

[JohnL]

Figured out that these are most likely Dutchman's Breeches.

I would have bet they were Bleeding Hearts. If you can go back later to see them, check to see if they turn more pink than white.

JohnL

 

[Kevin Judy and Emma]

Great shots by everyone!

@ DSettahr- I am no expert, but I also believe it to be Dutchman's Breeches. The 2nd flower labeled Common Wood Sorrel I believe to be Spring Beauty.

KDT

 

[nartreb]

I concur on the Spring Beauty (leaf shape is a giveaway vs sorrel), but I can't support the Dutchman's Breeches ID. The shape of the lobes is all wrong, and the pink spots would be extremely unusual. Their close relative, Bleeding Hearts, isn't a good match either - mostly by color but also on lobe shape. I'll vote for a third member of genus Dicentra: squirrel corn, Dicentra Canadensis.

 

[1HappyHiker]

Below is a snapshot of what I think is Goldthread. It was seen on 05-May at about 1,500 ft. elevation on the west side of the Crawford Notch, about a mile south of Mt. Willard.

 

[w7xman]

I concur on the Spring Beauty (leaf shape is a giveaway vs sorrel), but I can't support the Dutchman's Breeches ID. The shape of the lobes is all wrong, and the pink spots would be extremely unusual. Their close relative, Bleeding Hearts, isn't a good match either - mostly by color but also on lobe shape. I'll vote for a third member of genus Dicentra: squirrel corn, Dicentra Canadensis.

Correct on the squirrel Corn!

 

[Kevin Judy and Emma]

Squirrel Corn

Agreed!

KDT

 

[w7xman]

I've been away from New England for a bit, and am amazed at how fast spring has come in to southern NH and Maine.

Yesterday, I went and found some Fringed Polygala in Bedford, NH on the way to the Ponemah bog. Also in bloom yesterday were lady slippers, bluets, a few lingering oats and plenty of starflowers.

Then in the bog, it was on it's way to past, and the wind tonight might just kill the rhodora. This is about a week and a half earlier than last year. In bloom were blueberries, laurel, rhodora and cherry, as well as a few bog rosemary. I seems as though a good indicator for the bogs is lilac in full bloom!

This morning I went to the Saco Heath in Maine. In bloom there were clintonia, polygala, a few lingering goldthread, starflowers, lady slippers and plenty of painted trilliums!

Here's the Saco Heath...be careful if you go, parts of the boardwalk are a bit rough!

 

[blaze]

The polygala shot is outstanding! Let me know next time you shoot in the Saco Heath - just down the road from me.

Here's a daylily in my yard... that's about as far as I wandered today.

 

[JohnL]

I found these beauties this morning in a walk in the woods just outside my neighborhood:

JohnL

 

[Elizabeth]

As of May 9, Pink Ladies' Slippers are just beginning to bloom in central, western NH at 1,500' (north-facing).

 

[RickB.]

Wild Calla, Kittery Point, ME on 5-12-10

 

[w7xman]

NH Endangered Flower...cultivated at a local nature center...

Haven't found it in the wild yet...any tips through PM appreciated!

 

[Forester Jake]

Great shots!
I'm actively involved with searching out wildflowers and have been very surprised with how early everything is blooming this year (here in the Mt Mansfield, VT area we are a full 3 weeks ahead of "normal" blossom time!!!).

Anybody observe how the local woodland and mtn flora has been affected by the past two snowstorms and 3 heavy freezes of last week??

 

[w7xman]

Wow...you got some great shots there! Love the polygala you shot...the water really adds to it.

I shot some this morning myself in Pawtuckaway. Starting to fade...but this one was nice!

Also seen...lily of the valley, solomon seal, star flower, canada mayflower, lady slipper, strawberry, bluets still, and a bunchberry (not common here down south).