Sunday, April 4, 2010

Spring Comes to the Woodlands of Iowa

Photos and text by Bob Kelly

On south east facing hillsides, the woodlands of Iowa are awakening in blooms. The Bloodroot is a large white flower with yellow centers. The sap inside the stem is red, like blood!



I only saw one Trout Lily or Dog's Tooth Violet
as it is also called. The delicate blooms hang upside down, and you have to lie on your stomach and view it at eye level to appreciate its delicate shape and colors.

The Dutchman's Breeches are hanging out for us to enjoy! They are in shades of light pink, light yellow, or light lavender, and the longer the blossom is out, the more it fades into white.


The Rue-Anemone varies in shades of light bluish-purple to white and is very distinctive on the forest floor


Meanwhile, out in the wide open spaces of the prairie, and away from the forest environment, one of the first plants to bloom is the Pasqueflower, shown here in purple and white.



1 comment:

Ur-spo said...

I remember growing dutchman's britches; a sure sign of spring, indeed.