A Forest full of Flowers

Since their blossoms generally tend to be small and inconspicuous, trees and shrubs are often overlooked as being flowering plants. One of the first harbingers of spring, these Pussy Willow catkins were photographed on March 7th. The catkins in the picture below taken on March 22nd are mature enough to tell that they bear male or staminate flowers – you can see a fine yellow dusting of pollen released if you rap the twig sharply. Pussy Willows are dioecious, an individual plant bears only male or only female flowers.

Silver Maple in full bloom along the Moira River on the last day of winter, March 19th. Despite their size, the tiny flowers of trees can be just as colorful and charming as the larger, showier blossoms of any other plants.

The male flowers of Speckled Alder, photographed on March 20th. Speckled Alders are monoecious, an individual tree bears both male (staminate) and female (pistillate) flowers.

The cone-like strobili, or pistillate catkins, associated with the female flowers. These are still immature, they will open as they age to disperse the seeds. This photo was taken on July 14th of last year ...

... and last year's strobili as they appear now, they feel quite hard and woody to the touch.

Quaking or Trembling Aspen – male or staminate flowers, this tree is dioecious, the male and female flowers are borne on separate trees.

There were also elms blossoming in mid-March, but alas, I couldn't take any photos because the catkins were out of reach of my camera, and I'm getting way too old to be climbing like a monkey.

The pace of flowering picks up in early to mid-April. Generally considered to be a weed, Boxelder Maple (Acer negundo) is dioecious, these are the flowers of a male tree.

Finally – a tree (albeit a small one) with what appears to be real, self-respecting flowers. Serviceberry (Amelanchier sp.), a member of the Rose family, blossoms just as the leaves are unfurling. There are several species of Amelanchier that often hybridize, creating identification nightmares for amateurs like myself.

Moving from the canopy to the woodland floor – like the trees, grasses and their relatives, the sedges and rushes, generally aren't thought of as being "flowers". On the first weekend of April the tiny blossoms of Pennsylvania Sedge (Carex pensylvanica) create bright sparks of color among last years dead leaves.

The first Hepaticas of the year are also open. Hepaticas belong the the same family as buttercups – Ranunculaceae. One of last year's old leaves is visible to the lower right of the first image, identifying these flowers as Sharp-lobed Hepatica (Hepatica nobilis acuta). Has there been a re-classification in the world of botany? Ontario Wildflowers gives the Latin name of this species as Anemone acutiloba.

The very hairy stems are characteristic of hepaticas. Some of the flowers were a beautiful pale lilac color, but the images were unsatisfactory due to poor lighting and being out of focus.

A closeup of the Sharp-lobed Hepatica. These flowers were photographed in the deciduous woodlands along Rapids Road.

Another woodland wildflower that's a sure sign of early spring, these Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) blossoms were encountered about half a kilometer east of town. Bloodroot belong to the Poppy family, Papaveraceae. The flowers open before the leaves, note how the leaves clasp the stems during this stage of growth.

Several plants thriving in shallow soil on top of a rock.

A couple of closeup shots of the flowers.

The seed pod – this plant has already finished blooming.

A photo of the leaves fully unfurled after the plant has completed its flowering period, taken in early May of last year.

There are many species of violet in our area (until I took up nature photography, I had the notion that there were only two kinds – blue, and yellow). The flowers of Dog Violet (Viola conspersa) have a small spur on the back.

"The question is not what you look at, but what you see." – Henry David Thoreau. Indeed ... how many times have I merely looked at, or walked past, groups of Barren Strawberry (Waldsteinia fragarioides), but not seen them until today? Not to mention I've been somehow blind to the possibility that there may be more than one species of strawberry. And I wonder – what else have I not been seeing ... ?

Vernal Vegetation ... The First Flowers of Spring

Many low growing woodland herbs have to get off to an early start and live hard and fast. They must bloom, produce seeds, and photosythesize food to store in their bulbs and tubers for next year before the taller shrubs and trees leaf out and bar the sunlight. The Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) has already blossomed; all that remains of these members of the Poppy family are the distinctive leaves.

Dense yellow carpets of Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris) brighten up the subdued woodland corners. These plants prefer areas where the soil is saturated with water. The Marsh Marigold is a member of the Buttercup family and like many of its relatives it contains toxic irritants.

The wildflowers captured in these images are only a very few that were encountered along the Eastern Ontario Trail within three kilometers east of Tweed. The lily family is well represented. The Large-flowered Bellwort (Uvulaire grandiflore) with its gracefully drooping blossoms is found in the same woodland habitat as Trilliums.

No collection of spring floral images would be complete without our provincial flower, the ubiquitous White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum). The Red Trillium (Trillium erectum) or Wake Robin seems to be a less common species locally; I only encountered one specimen last spring.

Even when not in bloom the Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum) is easily identified by its mottled leaves. These lilies spread by corms and are often found growing in large colonies in moist areas.

The Cut-leaved Toothwort (Dentaria laciniata), or Crow's Toes. I've walked past this member of the Mustard Family many a time in the past but never stopped and took the time to find out what it was. There's a difference between looking and seeing, and always something new to learn ...

The fragile star-like flowers of the Narrow-leaved Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) add a touch of color to last autumn's leaves covering the woodland floor. This flower is a member of the Purslane family, a relative of the gaudy Portulacas cultivated in gardens.

Open areas along the sides of the trail are suitable habitat for violets. The following two species are probably the Common Blue Violet (Viola sororia), or possibly a Marsh Blue Violet (Viola cucullata), and the less common but by no means rare Downy Yellow Violet (Viola pubescens). I’m not a hundred percent certain as to species ... until I started researching these images, I had no idea there were so many kinds of violets ...

Coltsfoot also prefers less shaded areas. The flower and seed head superficially resemble a dandelion: both are members of the Aster family. However, the stems of Coltsfoot bear reddish brown scales and the basal leaves are very different from those of the dandelion.

Virginia Strawberries (Fragaria virginiana) may be found where woodlands give way to fields.

I'm not sure exactly which species of Low Blueberries (Vaccinium sp.) this is, but these small shrubs with their characteristic bell-shaped flowers thrive in rocky areas with poor soil cover.

Some plants like to live dangerously, Saxifrage can be found growing on rocky outcrops. This is probably Saxifraga virginiensis.

The Canada Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), a fitting name for a plant living in a habitat found on the edge of the Canadian Shield, is another flower that’s often found hanging onto ledges with little soil. In terms of form and color this member of the Buttercup family is my favourite wildfower.