Raspberries and Chokecherries Blooming in PA

I have three members of the Rose family to share with you today.

In another month we should be picking raspberries all down the lane. Great arcs of white blossoms show where I need to cut back the poison ivy and dead branches for easy access. The fruit-producing stem will be lopped off in the fall to encourage new growth for next year’s crop.

A handful of raspberries will be produced at each node where you see five to eleven blossoms.

A handful of raspberries will be produced at each node where you see five to eleven blossoms.

Not all the flowers bloom at the same time. Some petals are falling away while other blooms have yet to open, which is excellent for harvesting. Some fruits will ripen before others, so there is the possibility of several harvests. Hopefully, the birds and the bear will save us some.

Raspberry, Rubus sp., flowers in different stages of development.

Raspberry, Rubus sp., flowers in different stages of development.

Wild roses, Rosa multiflora, are in the bud stage now, but it won’t be long before they beautify the lane with delicate, white blooms and a sweet scent.

Flower buds of wild roses are still small and packed inside the green sepals.

Flower buds of wild roses are still small and packed inside the green sepals.

More white blooms were found on the Common Chokecherry, Prunus virginiana. The shrubs to small trees occur in disturbed areas, particularly roadsides and edges of fields. Small flowers occur in clusters three to six inches long with each individual blossom having five rounded petals, a cup-shaped calyx and numerous stamens.

Common Chokecherry flowers occur in elongated clusters.

Common Chokecherry flowers occur in elongated clusters.

Notice the bag worm, or tent caterpillar, nest in the background. If you inspect the lower portion of the photo above, you will see yellow-green midribs of the leaves that the caterpillars have consumed. Lucky for the birds who eat the cherries that the bag worms don’t eat the flowers!

Dame’s Rocket Blooming in Pennsylvania

Driving along a Pennsylvanian country road during the months of May or June, you are likely to see some patches of tall white, pink or violet flowers, called Dame’s Rocket or Dame’s Violet.

White and violet patches of Dame's Rocket give a splash of color to the Pennsylvanian roadside.
White and violet patches of Dame’s Rocket give a splash of color to the Pennsylvanian roadside.

The flowers of Dame’s Rocket, Hesperis matronalis, cluster at the top of one to three feet tall stems. Blooms with four petals that eventually give rise to erect seedpods indicate this garden escape is a member of the mustard family. Phlox spp. are similar in appearance although the flowers have five petals and you would most likely find phlox blooming in a wooded area.

Violet and white blooms of Dame's Violet have four petals.
Violet and white blooms of Dame’s Violet have four petals.

The white blossoms may have a tinge of pink or purple and some flowers are variegated. The stamens and style are retained mostly in the flower tube.

Dame's Rocket blooming in white.
Dame’s Rocket blooming in white.

A few small flower clusters project from the leaf axils. Finely toothed leaves attach directly to the hairy, stiff stem.

Violet flowers of a roadside beauty.
Violet flowers of a roadside beauty.
Dame's Rocket will catch your attention with its bright colors and great patches of many flowers.
Dame’s Rocket will catch your attention with its bright colors and great patches of many flowers.

Wild Pink Flowers — Azaleas and Lady Slippers in the Mountains

Before the rain got too heavy this afternoon we ducked into our Pennsylvania woods to see how the Pink Lady’s Slippers were coming along.

Right on cue — sometime between the First of May and Mother’s Day — the Pink Lady’s Slippers come out in full bloom. Each year we go to the same spots to see these beautiful and interesting members of the orchid family.

Because of the shape of the irregular flower Cypripedium acaule is also known as the Moccasin Flower. Indeed, the heavily veined, pink pouch identifies the Pink Lady’s Slipper.

Pink Lady's Slipper growing in a mixed hardwoods forest in the mountains of Pennsylvania.

Pink Lady’s Slipper growing in a mixed hardwoods forest in the mountains of Pennsylvania.

This plant is distinctively hairy, which is not noticeable until you get real close. All parts of the basal leaves, flower stem, sepals and the blossom have short, soft hairs.

Fuzzy Pink Lady's Slipper showing short hairs and the deeply cleft, hollow pouch.

Fuzzy Pink Lady’s Slipper showing short hairs and the deeply cleft, hollow pouch.

The atypical views of this pink orchid illustrate the three dimensional shape of the irregular flower.

Side view shows the heavily veined pouch of the Moccasin Flower.

Side view shows the heavily veined pouch of the Moccasin Flower.

The greenish-brown sepals and lateral petals are not very noticeable from a distance as they blend in with the background colors.

The greenish-brown sepals and lateral petals are not very noticeable from a distance as they blend in with the background colors.

In a couple weeks the pink flower will fall away leaving behind the green, spade-shaped bract at the top of the long flower stem.

In a couple weeks the pink flower will fall away leaving behind the green, spade-shaped bract at the top of the long flower stem.

If you have an occasion to hike the woods of Eastern Canada or the Northern United States or the Appalachian Mountains down to north Georgia, keep your eyes open for the Pink Lady’s Slipper. It’s not every day that you get to see this beautiful orchid!

More wild pink flowers that we saw today were a group of pretty Pink Azaleas, Rhododendron nudiflorum, also known as the Pinxter Flower. We were surprised to see so many blossoms as this was the most extensive blooming witnessed to date.

Wild Pink Azaleas blooming underneath an oak tree.

Wild Pink Azaleas blooming underneath an oak tree.

Five petals are joined at the base making a long tube which has more color than the distal ends of the petals. The orange-tipped stamens are very long and project well beyond the petals. The green-tipped pistil is longer yet.

Close up image of pink azalea flower showing the long stamens and pistil.

Close up image of pink azalea flower showing the long stamens and pistil.

Pink azaleas are practically odorless, but apparently the leaves taste good to some little green caterpillars. Most of the elongated leaves were already consumed, except for the midrib.

Notice the leaf midribs left behind by ravenous caterpillars in the lower right of this image of Pink Azaleas.
Notice the leaf midribs left behind by ravenous caterpillars in the lower right of this image of Pink Azaleas.

Gaywings and a Red-Spotted Newt in a Pennsylvania Forest

A red spotted newt crossed my path today as we took a walk out back in the woods. It had been an overcast morning with a few sprinkles here and there. As it started raining lightly again I came across this little amphibian walking in the forest.

Red-spotted newt walking in the woods.

Red-spotted newt walking in the woods.

A few weeks ago when we had some warmer weather newts were rolling around together at the surface of the pond, which is about an 1/8 mile down hill from where I saw the newt today.

The bright orange color with red spots tells us that this little salamander is the terrestrial juvenile stage called a red eft. Both the younger, larval stage and the older, adult stage are aquatic in form.

Red-spotted newt, Notophthalamus viridescens viridescens, in the terrestrial juvenile stage — The Red Eft.

Red-spotted newt, Notophthalamus viridescens viridescens, in the terrestrial juvenile stage — The Red Eft.

A favorite woodland plant of mine is blooming. Fringed Polygala, Polygala paucifolia, or Gaywings, has been blooming now for about a week. The blooms are unique with two hot pink sepals that flare to the sides and look like wings. Petals are united in a central pink tube having the lowest petal tipped with fringe.

Gaywings, or fringed polygala, is a cheerful sight on a woodland walk.
Gaywings, or fringed polygala, is a cheerful sight on a woodland walk.

The unique flowers characterize this member of the milkwort family. Gaywings can also be recognized by the cluster of broad leaves that arise from underground stems.

Gaywings popping up from underground stems.
Gaywings popping up from underground stems.

Quite a Blooming Difference in 500 Miles and a Week!

Returning last week from a holiday spent in North Carolina, we couldn’t help but notice that the trees are mostly in full leaf now. Departing a week earlier we saw the oaks just coming out of their winter buds and a few other tree’s leaves still bundled up tight, like the elms and mimosas.

The dandelions that were left blooming are now dusting their fluffy seeds wherever the wind will carry them. Probably more fodder for next year’s early spring ham and dandelion dinners that are popular around here in central Pennsylvania.

Driving south through Maryland we relished the sight of red bud trees in full bloom. On the return trip north the same trees were full of greenery and barely showed the beautiful purple-violet blooms from the prior week.

In eastern North Carolina the azaleas and dogwoods already finished blooming before we got there, thanks to a cold snap, while our PA azaleas have just enlarged their flower buds so that the color is showing, yet the blossoms are not quite open. Dogwood blossoms are out in their full glory.

Traveling 500 miles one-way is a long trip no matter who is driving or whatever the route. We celebrated our safe journey by visiting with dear friends, tasting some really fantastic grouper and triggerfish, and finding a car load of marine fossils that date back at least a million years.

If you’d like to find your own fossils and have an opportunity to be in eastern North Carolina, stop by the Aurora Fossil Museum where you can see a nearly complete ancient whale, lots of shark’s teeth, and many more fossils from this locality. On May 26, 2007 the annual fossil festival over takes the town with a parade, a pageant, fossil collecting, music, food, and even an auction. Visit the museum’s website to see the auction items, including a marvelous Carcharocles megalodon tooth that is being raffled!

Spring Violets Blooming in Pennsylvania Mountains

Two days ago the first violet was seen opening its purple blossoms. Between the rain and the wind that come along with the Spring rains, it’s been hard to get decent photos of them.

The Northern Downy Violet, Viola fimbriatula (V. sagittata var. ovata) is characterized by its elongated lance-shaped leaves with short stems. It is always one of the first violets to bloom in south-central PA.

The light violet to purple flowers are only slightly taller than the leaves and sit about 2-3 inches above the ground. The spur is small in this species of viola.

Northern Downy Violet is a small spring-blooming violet.
Northern Downy Violet is a small spring-blooming violet.

The two lateral lower petals are bearded with fine hairs. The lower middle petal has lines of deep purple. Stems of both flower and leaf are softly hairy, or downy.

YBearded side petals and lobed leaves characterize the Northern Downy Violet.
Bearded side petals and lobed leaves characterize the Northern Downy Violet.

Younger individuals of the northern downy violet have smaller oval-shaped leaves without lobes.

Oval-shaped basal leaves are short on these violets growing in gravel.
Oval-shaped basal leaves are short on these violets growing in gravel.

A similar violet is the arrow-leaved violet, Viola sagittata. Leaves are lance shaped with notches at the base, but the leaves are not downy. Flowers are about 4-5 inches off the ground.

Arrow-leaved violet has smooth, lance-shaped leaves.
Arrow-leaved violet has hairless, lance-shaped leaves.

A great resource for aiding indentification of New England violets is the Connecticut Botanical Society, where you can browse wildflowers by color, look up ferns and rare plants, and learn about gardening with native plants.

Fresh tulip blossom.
Fresh tulip blossom.

Cherry Trees Are Now Blooming in the Mountains of Pennsylvania

Thanks to the very warm weather we are experiencing, there’s more activity in the way of what’s blooming this week! Quite a swing to be 15-20 degrees warmer than usual after the very late snows we had in central Pennsylvania and upstate New York.

The spiderwort leaves are at least 6 inches out of the ground now. The wild ginger leaves are just out of the surface and rising up from their shallow-rooted rhizomes.

Sassafras trees are enlarging their bright yellow-green buds. The buds in sunny areas are starting to open.

Cherry trees are blooming now in earnest. As you drive along the country roads no other trees are showing green leaves, except for the evergreens of course. The view is mostly gray and brown but here and there you see the white, dotted outline of Prunus trees in bloom. With the exceptionally warm weather the cherry blooms will not last long.

Winter buds open to reveal a set of green leaves and four or five white cherry blossoms.
Winter buds open to reveal a set of green leaves and four or five white cherry blossoms.
Five crinkly leaves for each cherry flower.
Five crinkly leaves for each cherry flower.
Cherry blossoms in different stages of blooming with the lower ones opened first.
Cherry blossoms in different stages of blooming with the lower ones opened first.

Pin cherry, Prunus pensylvanica, grows at the edge of the woods or in disturbed or opened areas of the forest. Blossoms overhead are in clusters of four or five.

In the foreground a pin cherry tree shows the individual blossom clusters while the blooming tree in the background is outlined in white flower clusters.
In the foreground a pin cherry tree shows the individual blossom clusters while the blooming tree in the background is outlined in white flower clusters.

Also this week I was surprised by the grape hyacinth that had doubled in size from last year. I had forgotten about it until I saw the deep purple blooms. What a terrific scent, too! Crocuses are history for 2007, and the star magnolia will be too very soon. Greenery of the lily-of-the-valley is coming up and there are others to look forward to…so stay tuned!

Purple, Blue and White Hepatica Blooms Show Off Their Spring Colors and a New Leaf

Hepatica was in full bloom this past week. It is so refreshing – and surprising! – to see a beautiful cluster of dainty, pale blue to violet flowers on the otherwise dull forest floor of tan. Oak leaves rustle everywhere you step except the places where animals have worn them down to flakes along their paths.

Round-lobed hepatica growing out of the end of an old fallen tree.

Round-lobed hepatica growing out of the end of an old fallen tree.

Hepatica americana is quite variable in its growth habit. Sometimes the tri-lobed leaves are not present at the time of flowering. Sometimes the leaves are just as tan as the dead oak leaves. Others have green leaves that apparently survived winter just fine.

Hepatica blooming with no apparent leaves.

Hepatica blooming with no apparent leaves.

Four tan and quite dead-looking leaves are present on this woodland hepatica plant.

Four tan and quite dead-looking leaves are present on this woodland hepatica plant.

I saw a new leaf variety this year that I have not noted before nor read about in my trusty field guide books. Usually, the tri-lobed leaves are at ground level and may even be hidden under last year’s old tree leaves.

In the two images below you can see two types of leaves. The larger tri-lobed leaves are the norm. The smaller and erect leaves are taller than the blossoms and much smaller than the typical basal leaves. The small leaves are also somewhat tri-lobed, yet definitely have a more scalloped edge compared to the smooth edge of the typical leaves.

Small, erect leaves on this woodland plant are not typical of round-lobed hepatica.

Small, erect leaves on this woodland plant are not typical of round-lobed hepatica.

Larger, tri-lobed leaves at ground level and small, erect leaves of hepatica.

Larger, tri-lobed leaves at ground level and small, erect leaves of hepatica.

Hepatica is also variable with respect to its blossom colors. Today’s images show the blooms to be white, light blue to violet, or shades of purple.

White blossoms of hepatica showing large sepal-like bracts and wide white petal-like sepals as compared to the purple flowered plants.

White blossoms of hepatica showing large sepal-like bracts and wide white petal-like sepals as compared to the purple flowered plants.

It is so pleasing to have one of my favorite woodland plants on our property. When everyone is itching to get outside after a long winter and those nice warmer days come along, a simple walk in the woods is easy entertainment. It can be so invigorating when you spot a new or even familiar plant showing off its Spring colors.

Makes me want to say, “Oh, there’s no place like home, there’s no place like home!”