More Spring Wildflowers - April 1 - April 12

We have started reading The Burgess Flower Book for Children, by Thornton W. Burgess, and since about half of the book covers spring wildflowers, many of which are short-lived, we're in a hurry. This book is such a wonderful treat! I think we'll always remember how the hepatica blossoms close up at night in their warm, fur coats. Here are some of the flowers we have found recently.

Rue Anemone at Greenbelt beside a waterfall

Shepherd's Purse along wayside at Greenbelt

Chickweed along wayside at Greenbelt

Beetles on a Bloodroot blossom hopelessly searching for nectar

Flowering Dogwood

Dwarf Larkspur at Laurel Run Park

Dutchman's Britches at Laurel Run Park

Celandine Poppy at Laurel Run Park

Dwarf Larkspur close-up

Trillium at Laurel Run Park

Phlox at Laurel Run Park

Large-flowered Bellwort at Laurel Run Park

Meadow Rue at Laurel Run Park

Squirrel Corn at Laurel Run Park

Wild Ginger at Laurel Run Park

Yellow Corydalis at Laurel Run Park

Spring Wildflowers on Greenbelt

A group of sleepy hepatica blossoms

Trout Lily blossom opening

Bloodroot

Trillium

Harbinger of spring

Trillium

 

Carolina Spring Beauty

Virginia Spring Beauty

I think these are buckeye leaves emerging from a sapling

Spicebush

Toothwort

Toothwort

Great Blue Heron Rookery

Here is a great entry to start your Calendar of Firsts: the Great Blue Heron rookery at Fort Patrick Henry Dam. There appear to be at least 20 nests. My photos don't do this justice, but it is really an amazing sight that we are fortunate to have so close to home. There is a close-up photo on the Warriors' Path State Park Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Warriors-Path-State-Park/168588166115?ref=ts&fref=ts

We sat and watched with binoculars today to see the herons flying to and from the nests carrying branches. To see this site, head toward Fort Patrick Henry Dam on Fort Patrick Henry Road and pull into a small gravel area with a gate just before the bridge. There is a TVA sign there.