> Ephemeral and exquisite.

Bloodroot is my favorite spring wildflower.  The light and shadows here are less than ideal with some of the outer petals blown out, but this shot shows the intrinsic sparkle of the  petals better than my other shots, and gives a sense of the overall delicacy of the blossoms.

April 16, 2009
NW Ohio.
 > Round-lobed Hepatica.

My second favorite Spring wildflower, next to bloodroot.  I have known hepatica to bloom in SE Michigan as early as late February in exposed (warmer) locations.  This year, they only reached full bloom in mid-April!  Yes, Spring has come very slowly this year.

April 18, 2009
SE Michigan
 > Round-lobed hepatica.

Unlike the ephemeral bloodroot blossoms, hepatical bloom persist bravely for a number of days.  Virtually all parts of the plant apart from the flowers are covered with fine hairs, as can be seen here.

In the woodlands of SE Michigan and NW Ohio, hepatica can be seen in color variations from palest pink (nearly white) to deep purple.  These blooms are just about as richly colored as hepatica comes.

April 18, 2009
SE Michigan
 > Hepatica blossoms exhibit an interesting irregularity in number of petals and in their shapes and relative sizes, in contrast to the three-fold symmetry of the leaves and sepals.

April 18, 2009
SE Michigan
 > Hepatica.

Bloom numbers vary widely in the clusters of hepatica that cover this hillside of mixed hardwood in SE Michigan.  This cluster is on the larger size, and the blossoms on the paler side.

April 18, 2009
SE Michigan
 > Little charmer.  A smaller blossom than usual for bloodroot, so probably on young plant.

Note how full and plump the anthers are in this blossom, and compare that with the more shriveled anthers in more advanced blossoms in other pictures.

April 16, 2009
NW Ohio.
 > Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum).
Also known as Adders Tongue, in reference to the appearance of the tightly rolled, pointed leaves as they emerge from the ground, or Dogtooth Violet, in reference to the color and shape of the corm.  The flower is not related to violets.  The "flower" is comprised of three true petals and three petal-like sepals.

April 16, 2009
NW Ohio.
 > Scilla or Squill.  These are less white in the center than some, though perhaps that will change with age?

April 16, 2009
NW Ohio.
 > Wildflowers photo
Ephemeral and exquisite.

Bloodroot is my favorite spring wildflower. The light and shadows here are less than ideal with some of the outer petals blown out, but this shot shows the intrinsic sparkle of the petals better than my other shots, and gives a sense of the overall delicacy of the blossoms.

April 16, 2009
NW Ohio.
 > Ephemeral and exquisite.

Bloodroot is my favorite spring wildflower.  The light and shadows here are less than ideal with some of the outer petals blown out, but this shot shows the intrinsic sparkle of the  petals better than my other shots, and gives a sense of the overall delicacy of the blossoms.

April 16, 2009
NW Ohio.
Ephemeral and exquisite.

Bloodroot is my favorite spring wildflower. The light and shadows here are less than ideal with some of the outer petals blown out, but this shot shows the intrinsic sparkle of the petals better than my other shots, and gives a sense of the overall delicacy of the blossoms.

April 16, 2009
NW Ohio.
Photo by: arctangent • see photo in gallery

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