Woodland Wandering
Here are a few highlights of yesterday’s walk in the woods.
British Soldiers Recaptured
At first glance it only looked like a moss covered rock but a closer inspection reveled an encampment of British Soldiers. (AKA Matchstick Lichen)
I recently posted other photos of the British Soldiers but I couldn’t help repeating myself.
Resized 1024 x 768 for use as desktop wallpaper. (My time to change was overdue)
Marsh Marigolds in Spring Runoff
The Marsh Marigolds have been running behind some of the other early spring bloomers but are getting ready to catch up. Emerging from the water of a spring brook they’ve begun to bud up. It now looks like a race between Marsh Marigold and Trout Lily.
Things to Come
Wild Leeks seem to be everywhere. I can hardly keep from stepping in them in some areas. They’re close to harvest time and this year is going to be a record crop.
Unlike regular leeks, the wild ones have a very strong aroma and flavor like a mix of onion and garlic. Also known as ‘Ramps’ for who knows what reason.
Side note : I think Bill and Ted should have named their band ‘Wild Scallions’
A Dicentra for sure, either Squirrel Corn or Dutchman’s Breeches. Since I’m not Dutch and I’ve spotted no one else pantless in the woods I’m going to guess these are the leaves of Squirrel Corn. I should have dug up the root of one and checked. Dutchman’s Breeches have a cluster of small white tubers while Squirrel Corn has tubers that look like kernels of corn. Later when the plant blooms there will be no question about the identity.
I have no clue yet what this might be. I’ve only seen this single one but you can be sure I’ll be on the watch for more. No too close though, this thing looks like it can put an eye out.
No walk, no woods, no work, no nothing but laying most of today flat on my back. But somehow I managed to sit long enough to take care of my daily blog habit.
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April 23rd, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Great pictures.
April 23rd, 2009 at 7:19 pm
The more I read your post, the more pressure I put up any plant without name in my website.
You have been my difficult benchmark. You’ll get me bald one day.
April 23rd, 2009 at 11:07 pm
I love wildflowers! I came across a solitary skunk cabbage the other day, which was odd.
April 23rd, 2009 at 11:12 pm
Awesome pictures(-: Love the British Soldiers(-:
April 23rd, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Those are pretty cool looking. Do you have ginseng in your neck of the woods. I was shown this plant and yellow root that they dug for money in August. It is a season they have in West Virginia.
April 24th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Nice assortment of spring beauties! Why are you on your back? (Or is that explained in an earlier post?) Regardless, hope you’re up and around soon!
April 25th, 2009 at 1:41 am
I am SO jealous that your wildflowers are up and ours aren’t yet. GRrrrrrrr. I’ve been trying for years to figure out a way to tell the leaves of the SC and DB apart, and so far, I can’t just on the leaves alone. Is that last thing the false hellebore? Strong parallel veins is suggestive.
I gotta learn the super macro on my camera… just too busy with other stuff right now to give it my full attention.
April 26th, 2009 at 12:26 am
“Envy is green” Indeed it is! I may come back with some little thing from Minnesota to shock and awe you, who knows? Or maybe I should post some of my mystery plants and see if I get any bites.
April 26th, 2009 at 7:21 am
Do you know how lucky you are to live in such a wonderful place ??
If only I could go back to where I lived as a child and walk through the woods to see plants very much like this (I had no idea as a kid .. why do these things happen when we get old ?) damn it !! LOL