Roadside Wildflowers - April 25, 2008

Posted by WiseAcre on Apr 25th, 2008
2008
Apr 25

 I realized today that I should start a roadside wildflower ‘guide’. Far more wildflowers can be found along north country roads than one would imagine. Today was a good start with four wildflowers spotted in bloom.

Roadside Wildflower Photography

 The first wildflower to be found was Marsh Marigold. It’s a common sight and can be found along most roads in St. Lawrence County. Today I was headed to pick up some crushed stone and took the Russel Turnpike. For me it’s a shortcut that passes through the West Parishville State Forest.  But it’s not exactly what most people would call a Turnpike.

Russel Turnpike

Marsh Marigold

 I finally got a decent photo of the Marsh Marigold flowers. In the bright sunlight I didn’t notice the veins in the petals. Seems these days I need things magnified in order to really see them.

 You can’t tell by the photo but these Marsh Marigolds were growing in running water.  The water will dry up soon enough and so will the plants. It’s an early bloomer and Marsh Marigold seems to go dormant far too quickly.  

 Now I have to remember to go down the hill and dig some up.  I might have a hard time digging them out of the muck with all the willow roots entangling everything but my pond garden would appreciate having something so cheerful this time of year.

Quick tip:

 -  Large trays/planter bottoms and cardboard boxes are good to place plants in and use a plastic sled to haul things you dig up but have to hike back with.

Coltsfoot

 Just down the road a bit I came across the second find of the day. The little hint of yellow I spotted turned out to be Coltsfoot. Flowers first - foliage later is the motto here. It won’t be too long before the large leaves show up.

State Forest Sign

And so ends the wildflower hunt in the State Forest. I cheated with the other two discoveries of the day. They were spotted while driving but it was from my driveway.

Trout Lily

Scattered all through the woods in front of the house are Trout Lilies.

BloodrootLast but not least is the Bloodroot I have to be careful not to step on. I had to put a log in front of the spreading patch since it’s right where I park the truck. They have gone past their prime now but a few flowers remain. Those shown are have closed for the night. I expect most will open tomorrow for the last time.

 All in all April 25, 2008 was a good wildflower kind of day. I’m only sorry I didn’t stop to photograph the wild cherry trees in bloom. But there’s always tomorrow. I need to drive in the opposite direction to pick up some sandstone and if nothing else I should be able to get a few good photos of Black Lake on my way. I’ll just try not to think about the good fishing there as I drive by.

6 Responses

  1. CJ Says:
    April 26th, 2008 at 6:07 am

    I’m surprised you could find any Marsh Marigolds at all this year. It’s so horribly dry, isn’t it? You’re county and mine are at least burn ban free~unlike the one stuck between us. Have you noticed any effects on your spring blossoms? I think that it’s caused some of mine to be on the small side but at least they bloomed!

    CJ,
    There’s plenty of low wet land around but things have been dry. My garden is usually not dry enough to till until the end of May. I think what happened is that with the early snow cover the ground never froze. There was no frost line to trap water in the soil.

    My Bloodroot I think suffered from low moisture, leaves and flowers are very small this year. - the dry of last summer and this spring doesn’t seem to please them. But the early drying has generally done wonders for this low cold wet spot I call home. Everything has burst out of the ground like I’ve never seen before.

  2. Bamapat Says:
    April 26th, 2008 at 7:46 am

    Love wildflower photos and so glad you took photos and named the flowers.

    I need to get my camera and take some myself —-what with the price of gas, this should be a fun outing!

    I’ll take photos, post’em and you can name the suckers as I have no clue. Have a great weekend..and try to go fishing if you can, tis most relaxing!

    Bamapat,
    If you shoot them - you clean them. I’d be happy to identify any you find but you’re losing out on half the fun. Pick up at least the Peterson Field Guide to Wildflowers - Northeastern/Northcentral. I have two copies - one is always in the truck with me. If you like nice photos the National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers (Eastern Region) is another to consider. It also lists some trees and shrubs.

    I can’t even think of fishing at this time of year. There’s far too much demand for my time during spring. I don’t go indoors till it starts getting dark. I’ll go fishing this summer. But right now I have beds to prepare, stone to haul and set, planting to do and countless garden chats that need my full attention. And then there’s all the chores at home I’m trying to keep up with this year since I’m tired of having my gardens look like a weed conservatory.

  3. Apple Says:
    April 26th, 2008 at 12:11 pm

    Of your four I’ve only seen the marsh marigolds so far this year but the others are harder to see from my bus. It is terribly dry here but there are plenty of them not too far from the swamps and rivers. My trillium are blooming but I haven’t found nearly as many as I did last year.

    Apple,
    I have yet to see signs of trilliums. I haven’t gone looking but if they were up I should have spotted some along one the back roads. I’ve never seen it so dry so early.

  4. Joy Says:
    April 26th, 2008 at 1:06 pm

    What great pictures Wiseacre ! .. I have a thing for those Trout Lilies .. I wish I could manage some in my tiny garden. The Marsh Marigolds are so bright and pretty too.
    Even with all of our snow we are going “dry’ as well .. some rain ahead but I think the drought will still continue no matter what.
    Great post !
    Your astilbe friend, me !
    Joy

    Joy,
    I had hopes of rain but that huge front passing through is breaking up and going around my area again just like last summer. The rain front is at least 50 miles wide and the first 20 of that has vanished as it approaches my area. I’m beginning to believe that a new “Triangle” has formed in the Upper and Lower Lakes Wildlife Refuge near here. Something must be sucking things into another dimension. I know I’m missing stuff I can’t even remember having. Maybe you can go check it out.

    Na na na na na na - Tout Lilies are scattered all over my woods. You want some then sneak by and take some. And while you’re in the area why don’t you check out the Refuge for trans-dimensional rifts.

  5. Debbie Says:
    April 26th, 2008 at 9:54 pm

    Love the pictures of the wildflowers. I need to get out and about and see what is blossoming in the woods right now.

    We are a bit further south than you and our county is in a burn ban. It seems terribly dry for late April.

    Debbie,
    Monday - steady rain. Hope you get your share. Later on Sunday I found Bluets and Pussytoes blooming. Unfortunately the first hatch of Blackflies are now making it miserable outside.

  6. Mr. McGregor's Daughter Says:
    April 29th, 2008 at 11:08 am

    That Coltsfoot is tre funky. It looks like someone glued a weird daisy on top of an Asparagus stalk. You must have waded into the muck to get that great Marsh Marigold shot. Squishy1

    Mr. McGregor’s Daughter,
    I never knew how weird coltsfoot were up close. They look like dandelions especially when you’re driving. Lucky for me the Marsh Marigold was only a few steps from the road. I never came close to losing a boot.

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