Red trillium (also known as wake-robin) is blooming along Taft Road. This wine colored three-petaled flower is a real eye-catcher against the forest floor this time of year.
Panasonic GX8, Olympus 60mm macro, ISO 1250, f/10, 1/160″ exposure
Amelanchier (also known as serviceberry, shadbush, and shadblow, among others) is a flowering shrub that blooms this time of year. Its white blossoms are quite visible in the woods before the rest of the neighboring trees have leafed out.
Panasonic GX8, Olympus 60mm macro lens, ISO 1250, f/2.8, 1/4000″ exposure.
Virginia Spring Beauties (Claytonia virginica) are quite common in our woods this time of year and are one of the very earliest spring ephemeral wildflowers. We’re getting into peak season for them now, and the woods around here are carpeted in places smell sweetly of so many little flowers. This particular blossom popped out to me as it had the brightest and most vibrant pink of any that I saw on my walk yesterday.
Panasonic GX8, Olympus 60mm macro, ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/320″ exposure
While bushwacking up above the Camel’s Hump Nordic trails today, I came across several trout lilies in full bloom. Kneeling down to get a good shot, I noticed this congregation of false blister beetles feeding on the pollen and mating. According to Mary Holland’s excellent “Naturally Curious Day By Day”, these beetles are commonly found on trout lilies (the lilies being one of the early spring ephemerals) where they eat and do their business pretty much at the same time.
Panasonic GX8, Olympus 60mm macro, ISO 800, f/11, 1/160″ exposure.
While out on a wildflower walk up at the Camel’s Hump Nordic Ski Area today, I came across a motherlode of sharp-lobed hepatica. Dozens of blossoms were blooming along the trail, and keeping good company as well with trout lilies, blue cohosh, and spring beauties. I’ve dubbed the place “Wildflower Junction”!
Panasonic GX8, Olympus 60mm macro, ISO 1250, f/13, 1/500″ exposure.
Song sparrows are an early returning species in our area. Their lovely fluid song means spring has truly arrived. This little fellow was quite patient with me as I took several shots of him.
Panasonic GX8, Lumix 100-300mm lens @ 300mm, ISO 1600, f/7.1, 1/400″ exposure.
The prolific patch of bloodroot we have down by Fargo Brook has finally decided to open up fully. I learned from Mary Holland’s excellent book, “Naturally Curious Day By Day”, that bloodroot will close its petals on cloudy and chilly days, only opening fully when it’s sunny and above 47 degrees. It does this in order to save pollen and prevent self-pollination. When the temperature is above 47, some insect pollinators will become active and do the job. I noticed one such pollinator—a fly—doing just that as I was taking this shot. The fly was wary of me, however, and wouldn’t let me get a shot of it on the job.
Panasonic GX8, Olympus 60mm macro, ISO 800, f/11, 1/640″ exposure.
Robin & I paddled around the mouth of Lewis Creek yesterday morning. We had the pleasure of getting in close to this osprey and its mate who were camped out in a tree on one of the small (now inundated) islands out on Lake Champlain. This fellow had recently caught a fish and was enjoying a morning meal.
Panasonic GX8, Lumix 100-300mm lens @ 300mm, ISO 800, f/11, 1/500″ exposure.
Many species of willows are popping out now. These soft “pussies” are along the fenceline of our front field.
Panasonic GX8, Olympus 60mm macro lens, ISO 1600, f/13, 1/50″ exposure.
John Hadden Photography 