Spring-beauties: Late April 2020

On this day, I decided to explore the countryside north of Oakville. I learned that much of it is suburban development, industrial development or farms.

Tough to find natural areas even on rural side roads. My first discovery was this:

Here is what I found nearby:

Highbush-cranberry (Viburnum opulus)
Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)
Catnip (Nepeta cataria)
Hawthorn (Crataegus)
American Robin
Manitoba Maple (Acer negundo)
Wayfaring Tree (Viburnum lantana)
Wayfaring Tree (Viburnum lantana)
Bitternut Hickory (Carya cordiformis)
last year Song Sparrow nest
European Starling
Canada Goose
Canada Geese

My second stop was by a stream where I was able to climb a steep hill into a Sugar Maple forest.

This bird watched me with interest:

Red-tailed Hawk

Plants on the hill:

Serviceberry (Amelanchier)
Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)
Scilla
Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)
Ramps (Allium tricoccum)
White Elm (Ulmus americana)
Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum)
Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum)

My final stop was also by water

beside this road:

A short walk into the woods and some treasures were revealed:

White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)
White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)
Virginia Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum)
Running Strawberry-bush (Euonymus obovata)
Trout-lily (Erythronium americanum)
Trout-lily (Erythronium americanum)
Trout-lily (Erythronium americanum)
Trout-lily (Erythronium americanum)

I save the best for last. Claytonia virginica grows in upland forests such as at Sunnybrook Park but it also grows in lowland, even mucky forests such as the one I was in. The forest floor was carpeted in the perfectly named Spring-beauty.

Spring-beauty (Claytonia virginica)
Spring-beauty (Claytonia virginica)
Spring-beauty (Claytonia virginica)
Spring-beauty (Claytonia virginica)
Spring-beauty (Claytonia virginica)
Spring-beauty (Claytonia virginica)
Spring-beauty (Claytonia virginica)

The Latin “Claytonia” comes from botanist John Clayton (1694 – 1774) who was one of the earliest plant collectors in Virginia.

Spring-beauty (Claytonia virginica) with red ant
Spring-beauty (Claytonia virginica)
Spring-beauty (Claytonia virginica)

NATURE POETRY

Again the blackbirds sing; the streams
Wake, laughing, from their winter dreams,
And tremble in the April showers
The tassels of the maple flowers.     – John Greenleaf Whittier (1807–92)

Miles Hearn

3 thoughts on “Spring-beauties: Late April 2020

  1. Marilyn Bunker

    Miles, Thank you for sharing your spring. It is such a joy to see our beautiful outside world while we are sheltered at home.
    Best wishes for your safety and health,
    Marilyn

    Reply
  2. Lisa Volkov

    Spring beauties, indeed! Thanks Miles!
    Insofar as the gravestone is concerned: Reading such stones, and I do, I am often reminded of the many women who died in childbirth back then. It may have been something else, but it is often this, suggested also when more than one wife is listed for one man.

    Reply

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