Thanks to Alert Flowerophile Donna for noticing a flock of these little lilies at Wilson Mountain. Sessile means sitting or resting on the surface — these have sessile leaves, which means the leaf comes directly out of the main stem, but the leaf itself has no stem of its own. From the Lily family. Native to this region.
Sessile Bellwort, Wild Oats (Uvularia sessilifolia)
These came as hitchhikers with my violets and beauty berry. They’re wood poppies. The sap is a yellow latex that stains! They are wild and native to eastern and midwest North America.
Wood Poppy, Celandine Popppy (Stylophorum diphyllum)
Another violet has appeared. Great shape and pattern. I don’t know if it occurs wild like this or is a hybrid…
Freckles violet (Viola sororia)
The dark purple violets have withered, but new kinds are opening! This white violet has none of the blue smudge of the other white violets I have. I hope I’ve identified it correctly:
Small White Violet (Viola macloskeyi)
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)
