The blooms in the Big Ivy area have SPRUNG! We took a short 4 mile hike after work to check out this ever-evolving wildflower haven. The bright blue skies and warm temperatures over the past few days mean that the forest understory is greening up with spring ephemerals. Some wildflowers have already reached their peak bloom, while others are waiting in the wings for their debut!
Each spring, I look forward to documenting the stages of wildflower growth and bloom cycles, and comparing these images from year-to-year across different elevations, microclimates and plant communities. I love how the Solomon’s Seal begins its cycle by unfurling its long stem, revealing the tightly-closed flowers hiding underneath, which later open into perfect little bells.
Showy orchis (Galearis spectabilis)
It is always exciting to see Showy orchis, which first appears as a green rosette poking out of the leaf litter. Then the fleshy leaves unfold, followed by delicate flowers in varying shades of white, pink and purple.
Larkspur
Larkspur is abundant on trails and slopes in Big Ivy, and what a showstopper! In the Ranunculaceae family, Larkspur is among the showiest, along with Columbine, Monkshood, Clematis and Leather flower. This particular shade of pale lilac caught my eye, particularly in comparison to the more commonly found deep purple.
Squirrel Corn or Dutchman’s Breeches?
This lovely woodland herbaceous plant is a harbinger of spring, with heart-shaped flowers and lacy deep green foliage. Squirrel corn (Dicentra canadensis) and the other closely related Dicentra species, Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra curcullaria), have differently shaped flowers (see https://hikescape.org/fork-ridge-appalachian-trail-baxter-cliffs/) , with strikingly similar foliage but an earlier bloom time. Here is more information about these two species:
Large-flowered bellwort is plentiful in this particular area, with bright yellow, twisted sepals and petals that appear to pierce the leaves. There were large stands of bellwort scattered among the larkspur.
Jack-in-the pulpit can demonstrate variety in the color of the spathe, seen here with alternating purple and green stripes and as a lime green tube emerging from the forest floor.
Eventually, the light was fading; we turned around and headed home. Being in the midst of wildflowers gave me renewed energy for the remainder of the week. Happy trails, y’all!
1 Comment
Hiking the Great Balsams: Cold Mountain - HIKEscape · May 6, 2019 at 2:51 am
[…] The Showy Orchis has been slow to bloom this year, and while we saw many leaves, there were fewer flowers at this point in the spring. But the leaves in the tree canopy have not yet fully emerged, so light is still reaching the understory. Here are some other images of Showy orchis in bloom: https://hikescape.org/i-like-big-blooms-theyve-sprung-at-big-ivy […]
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