It’s only been 5 days since my last report, but it’s been a rough week and it looks like I won’t be able to get away over the weekend.  While wildflower photography can be more physically demanding than most people would think, I find it a great way to get away from stress for a while, so I took a few hours for a visit – it was great.  Among the new flowers beginning to bloom in the past 5 days are the prettiest of the Fleabanes we have in this area – Robin’s Plantain.

Robin’s Plantain – Erigeron pulchellus

Read on for the rest of the list, and a few more photos.  Click on the photos for larger images, and then “back” to return to this page.

More new ones seen on this trip:

• A few Wild Geranium – Geranium maculatum – just beginning.
  

Wild Geranium – Geranium maculatum

• The Wild Blue Phlox – Phlox divaricata – are beginning to bloom – a few down along the boardwalk, and quite a few along the horse trail.

Wild Blue Phlox – Phlox divaricata

• Several Purple Phacelia – Phacelia bipinnatifida – are blooming along the trail past the end of the boardwalk, and several along the horse trail (OK, there was one blooming last week, too.)

Purple Phacelia, Fernleaf Phacelia – Phacelia bipinnatifida

• The eagerly awaited Eastern Columbine – Aquilegia canadensis – were blooming above the Phacelia shown above.

Eastern Red Columbine, Wild Columbine – Aquilegia canadensis

• There are Plantain-leaf Pussytoes blooming along the rim above the falls.
• Wild Garlic is blooming on the edges of the field above the falls.
• Added 03/30 – We found several Yellow Mandarin blooming next to the boardwalk partially obscured by the handrail at the last curve in the walk.

And the rest of the list I saw blooming today, which we’ve seen earlier this year:

• Virginia Bluebells are probably at their peak.
• Wood Poppies are also about their peak.
• Heartleaf Foamflower are looking great.
•  Blue Cohosh are starting to bloom.
• A few Hepatica are still hanging in there, but they are getting close to being only a memory of spring.
• Rue Anemoneare replacing those missing Hepatica.
• Cutleaf Toothwort are still around, but more are past their bloom than are still blooming.
• Carolina Spring Beauties are still blooming quite profusely.
• Star Chickweed continue to be profuse.
• Violets are coming into their own, including Canada Violets,  Viola sororia, Viola rostrata, Viola bicolor, and Viola pubescens. The Long-spurred Violets are magnificent right now.
• The Trailing Trillium are everywhere, most blooming.
• There are many Toadshade Trilliums starting form their flower buds, some with maroon starting to show up between their sepals.
• Many Bent White Trilliums with flower buds, many already bent over, and several almost completely opened.
• Bloodroot are nearly gone!  While I did not see a single one blooming last week, there were three or four I spotted this week; only one in the boardwalk area.
• Bellwort are profuse.
• A couple of Phacelia are blooming along the trail to the falls, and there are some great displays on the bluffs along the horse trail.
• Several Bishop’s Cap – Mitella diphylla – blooming along the trail to the falls.
• Sedum ternatum are starting to bloom, although you’ve got to be watchful to find any fully open blossoms.
• There are still a lot of Trout Lilies blooming, but especially in the area north of the parking lot.
• Cumberland Spurge are probably at peak, if you can call a peak on their understated blooming.
• A Virginia Pennywort – Obolaria virginica is still blooming near the bottom of the horse trail.
• Take a look at the Luna Moth I saw on a tree in The Pocket.