Month: May 2011

Northern Downy Violet in Two Week Bloom

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Northern Downy Violet is a native spring flower that we see popping up all over the lawns here on the mountain ridge. The front and back yard were virtually covered with these light to deep purple blossoms. They are most common in areas with the least amount of grass or weeds growing. Northern Downy Violet is known as Viola fimbriatula, although in the past I’ve called it Downy Northern Violet.

From late April to early May violets bloom en masse in open areas adjacent to woodlands in central Pennsylvania. Lots of rain made it a beautiful violet bloom time this year.

Look for violets in woodland settings with open areas that receive sunlight or have partial shade. Old lots, waste areas and fields may be good areas to find them, too.

Large Northern Downy Violet plant with many blooms.
Large Northern Downy Violet plant with many blooms. Photo taken 3 May 2011.

Very small plants may be no bigger than two inches square. Others can be six inches in diameter, but more commonly the entire plant is 3-4 inches in diameter and just as tall. These little violets may have a single bloom or up to a couple of dozen blooms.

Violas in general have irregular-shaped flowers with five petals and a short spur that may or may not extend beyond the flower stem. In the Northern Downy Violet the spur is a short one. The two upper petals are somewhat plainer than the three lower petals. All are similar color, ranging from light blue to deep purple in individual plants, and most have veins of deeper purple color. The two outer lower petals are bearded – you can see some fuzz on the inner white parts of these petals.

Downy northern violet flower with two lower lateral petals bearded and a short spur as seen on upper flower.
Downy northern violet flower with two lower lateral petals bearded and a short spur as seen on upper flower. Photo taken 26 April 2011.

The softly hairy leaves give this violet the moniker “downy”. Leaves are toothed and blunt or rounded at the tips and somewhat arrow-shaped. The base of the leaves may have notches with some being more exaggerated than others.

Toothed leaves with notches at the base and blunt tips.
Toothed leaves with notches at the base and blunt tips. Photo taken 26 April 2011.

Flowers rise above the foliage at first, then as the plant continues to grow the leaves may grow taller than the blooms.

Mature northern downy violet with many leaves and blossoms. Several flowers have yet to bloom. Leaves without notches at base.
Mature northern downy violet with many leaves and blossoms. Several flowers have yet to bloom. Leaves without notches at base. Photo taken 26 April 2011.

In same general area we also see the Common Blue Violet, Viola papilionacea, and Arrow-Leaved Violets, V. sagittata. The arrow-leaved violets seem to bloom slightly later than the northern downy violets, and both precede the common blue violet. All the blue violets are done blooming here by the end of June.

 

Dogtooth Violet is a Yellow Trout Lily

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One of the Spring woodland flowers that is quite common is the yellow-flowering Dogtooth Violet, Erythronium americanum. It’s also called the Trout Lily because it blooms in early Spring when the trout are spawning.

The dogtooth violet has six long, narrow petals that are bright yellow on the inside with streaks of red to brown on the under or back side. The petals are swept back or reflexed which makes the yellow stamens stand out. A single flower rises up on a short flower stalk about 4-8 inches.

Foliage consists of one or two sword-shaped basal leaves. Leaves are thick, noticeably variegated, and entire, having a smooth margin. Photos taken 26 April 2011.

Mottled leaves and swept back petals of the Dogtooth Violet.
Mottled leaves and swept back petals of the Dogtooth Violet.

The trout lily is often seen near streams and other wet, woodland areas. Look for it in areas where the Skunk Cabbage grows.

Trout Lilies can often be found near Skunk Cabbage in wetland areas.
Trout Lilies can often be found near Skunk Cabbage in wetland areas.

Trout lilies will often be found in massive quantities. Along a back road in central Pennsylvania a large group was spyed among brush in a swampy area near a creek.

Wetland habitat of trout lily is shared with skunk cabbage and mayapple.
Wetland habitat of trout lily. Trout lily in foreground and center of image with skunk cabbage. The taller greenery in the background is Mayapple. This area is lowland as noted by the rising hill in the background.

This could have been a beautiful display if the overgrown brush was removed. There were several lilies per square meter.

Many trout lilies growing in the same habitat.
Many trout lilies growing in the same habitat.
Mass of Trout Lily in Juniata County, PA - at least 50 lilies in bloom.
Mass of Trout Lily in Juniata County, PA - at least 50 lilies in bloom.

(Click on photos to see larger images.)

Like other Spring ephemerals this massive display of our native trout lily in bloom would probably hide on a cloudy day. We noticed the wetland flowers by the glint of their bright yellow flowers open in the sunshine.

Spring Ephemerals Bloom in Mass Quantities

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The middle of May brings the end of Spring ephemerals in central Pennsylvania. These early spring flowers are done with blooming by the time the tree canopy fills in with leaves. Once the trees leaf-in the small woodland plants can’t get enough energy from the sun to continue growth. Their greenery dies back and the plant goes into a dormant period until the following year when late Winter warmings stir them back to life.

A neat thing about early woodland flowering plants is that they often bloom en masse. Hundreds of flowering plants in a small area is a sight to behold, especially when the rest of the landscape is still brown and grey. Photographs cannot do these beautiful scenes justice. One has to be there in person to experience the thrill that can only be suggested via photography.

Mass of Virginia Bluebells along the Swatara Creek, Dauphin County, PA.
Mass of Virginia Bluebells along the Swatara Creek, Dauphin County, PA. Photo taken 5 April 2006.
Mass of Marsh Marigolds in Gifford Pinchot State Park, York County, PA.
Mass of Marsh Marigolds in Gifford Pinchot State Park, York County, PA.
Mass of Dutchman's Breeches in Perry County, PA.
Mass of Dutchman's Breeches in Perry County, PA. Photo taken 21 April 2010.
Mass of Bluets in Perry County, PA. Photo taken 7 April 2010.
Mass of Bluets in Perry County, PA. Photo taken 7 April 2010.

Places north of Route 80 in Pennsylvania, or at higher elevation, still have a little time to see the Spring ephemeral flowers.

It can be a very uplifting experience to see the natural beauty of the country. When you go, don’t forget to take the camera!

Wild Native Bee Hive in a Catalpa Tree

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A fellow we know is a farmer from way back. He knows the value of having bees around the farm and was proud to show us one of his natural bee hives. We didn’t get to see the actual beehive as it was deep inside the trunk of a large catalpa tree.

A big limb had broken off at the base for whatever reason and that made a hole into the trunk. Honey bees have been living in that tree for many years. Even though the big catalpa tree is right next to the house, our farmer friend found a way to live with the bees. Smart, I say. When his red raspberries are in flower, and that won’t be long now, they will be pollinated for sure.

Honey bees made a home in this old catalpa tree trunk.
Honey bees made a home in this old catalpa tree trunk. Photo taken 25 April 2011.

Letting the wild native bees stay where they are practically guarantees that the fruit trees will be pollinated. Another rotten old tree harbors a second colony of bees a hundred meters away. The walnut trees in that area will likely benefit from that beehive.

After hearing about colony collapse disorder and the plight of beehives in the USA, it’s great to see that at least some bees seem to be doing well.

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Photos Help to Locate Perennial Plants

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Each year I don’t get to walk all the trails that I’d like to for one reason or another and sometimes I’m too early or too late to see certain plants blooming. Finding perennial plants that bloom only in the Spring can be tough. Relying on memories of past walks to help locate some flowers doesn’t help too much.

The best idea I have to share about re-finding plants is to take lots of pictures. Sure, take pictures of the flowers, but also take photos of the surrounding area. Photograph plants that are growing nearby and any other memorable landmark. Images of buildings, walkways, big trees, streams and trail markers can help you find your quarry again in future years.

Before setting out on a trail you’ve photographed previously, review the pictures to refresh your memory. Here is an example that I’ll use next year to find these pretty Hepatica plants. Photos taken 21 April 2011.

Hepatica flowers at the moss-covered base of a large tree.
Hepatica flowers at the moss-covered base of a large tree. Note the two spent flowers as seen by the remaining green bracts near the center and top of the image.

On the opposite side of the big tree there was a white-flowering hepatica growing in the shade.

White hepatica flowers at the base of the same tree, but on the north side.
White hepatica flowers at the base of the same tree, but on the north side.

To be able to find these posies again next year, I took a photo of the nearby vicinity. That way, I can review the images before coming to this location in future years. It’s a great way to refresh one’s memory!

Large wounded tree marks location of hepatica plants. Skunk cabbage included in photo to mark tree's location near the creek.
Large wounded tree marks location of hepatica plants. Skunk cabbage included in photo to mark tree's location near the creek.
Image shows the relative location of the wounded hepatica tree near the creek.
Image shows the relative location of the wounded hepatica tree near the creek. The next photos in this grouping show upstream and downstream views of the creek.

Take a few pictures of the surrounding area to help you find your special friends again on future woodland walks.

Gorgeous hepatica flowering white in the sunlight!
Gorgeous hepatica flowering white in the sunlight!