The Redbuds are having a very good year, looking full and gorgeous. They’re native to eastern North America, but apparently not quite this far north, which explains why I haven’t seen them in the woods here but I know where you can find them wild in Illinois…
Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
Another prize at Centennial today — dogwood.
Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
bonus picture: little slice of dog heaven at Centennial
Newly blossoming at Centennial this week. As far as I can tell, this is Garlic Mustard, which sounds good, but evidently it’s a terrible weed that crowds out native plants. (Introduced from Europe.)
“Garlic mustard poses a severe threat to native plants and animals in forest communities in much of the eastern and midwestern U.S. Many native wildlflowers that complete their life cycles in the springtime (e.g., spring beauty, wild ginger, bloodroot, Dutchman’s breeches, hepatica, toothworts, and trilliums) occur in the same habitat as garlic mustard. Once introduced to an area, garlic mustard outcompetes native plants by aggressively monopolizing light, moisture, nutrients, soil and space. Wildlife species that depend on these early plants for their foliage, pollen, nectar, fruits, seeds and roots, are deprived of these essential food sources when garlic mustard replaces them. ” -Plant Conservation Alliance
Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata)
Another tiny stunner from Dr. Whiteside’s garden, now mine. I’ve never seen any others like it.
“Blogs were the new black two years ago. Now everyone has one. They aren’t particularly fashionable, but you can’t live without them. Blogs are the new sweat pants.” – Jenny Lawson
I was so pleased to spot this in my yard. Count it as wild but not local. They’re native to the west. The bulbs and roots make palatable food. But mainly, just look at them!
Checker Lily, Chocolate Lily (Fritillaria affinis)
This has to go in the category of wild but not local. (It’s one of my carry-on violets from Dr. Whiteside.) He said it was collected growing wild near his high school in Coal City, Illinois. I presume it’s a variety of blue violet, because it has that sort of leaf, but I’m not sure.
I’ve realized we have at least two kinds of blueberry plants around here. There are the small (lowbush) ones which are very common in our woods, and now I’ve noticed we also have highbush blueberries — the bushes are about 6 feet tall. This is the kind that was used to create cultivated blueberries. They’re native. The photos above (both the highbush variety) were taken one day apart — the top one is at Centennial in the shade, and the bottom one is at the Town Forest in a sunny previously burned area.
Northern Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)
Wild Crabs are just coming into bloom at Centennial.
Wild Crab Apple Tree (Malus coronaria)
| “Linnaeus probably never saw more than a dried specimen, but he named this tree coronaria, “fit for crowns and garlands.”” |
These violets aren’t strictly local, because while they’re in my yard, they were a gift last April from Wesley Whiteside, gardener extraordinaire from my hometown of Charleston, Illinois. I complimented him on how many varieties of violets he had blooming, and he offered to give me samples. I told him that was very kind but I was flying back. He said not to worry, they would be fine in a plastic bag for awhile. Soon I was amazing the security people at the little Champaign airport with my nine varieties of carry-on violets.
Right now, only the deep purple one is open. (Native.)
Common Blue Violet (Viola sororia)
The wild blueberries are just coming into blossom! (Native to this area.) Rain yesterday and warm weather on the way — really feeling like spring.
Lowbush Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium)