Tag: <span>Mertensia</span>

THE IPOD TOUCH WAS SET UP TO VIEW THE BLUEBELL PATCH IN THE SIDE GARDEN ADJACENT TO MORRIS PARK. THE BLUEBELLS GREW AND BLOOMED, WENT TO SEED AND DESCENDED BACK INTO THE EARTH AS THE Â COLUMBINES AND GERANIUMS ROSE TO PROMINENCE. WATCH THIS ALL PLAY ITSELF OUT IN HIGH SPEED MOTION WHERE Â TWO MONTH’S TIME HAS BEEN COMPRESSED INTO 3 MINUTES!

As the video reaches its last minute, pay attention to the lower right hand area, where you will see the Jack-In-The -Pulpit rise out of the Earth from its bulb in a rapid fashion and spread its leaves and bloom in a quickened pace compared to the other plants. Interesting how bulbs grow in relation to non-bulbous plants. The Ostrich ferns are also interesting to watch unfurl and rise up. Yes, one of them was removed and transplanted. At the very end of the video a Clematis vine is swinging itself into the picture, looking for something to grab onto.

The original intention of the video was to document the rise and blooming of the Bluebells (Mertensia virginica). After they lost their flowers, the scene was unfolding in such an interesting manner that we decided to let the camera keep rolling. Other plants that are featured in the video that you can keep an eye out for are Wild Ginger, (Asarum canadense) Lonicera sempervirens, The Coral honeysuckle and Mayapple, (Podophyllum peltatum).

For those interested in the process, we used the O-Snap App and had the Ipod take a picture every twenty minutes for the first 40 days and then every two hours after that. The night pictures were deleted because they distracted from the story of the plant’s progression and continuity of the video.

Late last summer we were here, enjoying the Paw-Paw trees and the Red lobelia when we came across the remains of a Bluebell on the forest floor. It was just a limp, yellowed piece of hay in the shape of a bluebell, and we looked closer at the forest floor, and started to see many more. It dawned on us that this was one of those special Bluebell places! We must plan to come back here in the spring. At the time the air was thick with the scent of very ripe Paw-Paw fruits and we were very much in the mood of the late summer and that was that. Â But as this past winter carried on and on, this place remained in our Springtime dreams, and we finally set out to visit. Â In the last post we mentioned our sighting of a white Bluebell, and here it is:

White Bluebells, Susquehanna State Park, Maryland

We will end this post with some amazing pink Bluebells.

It is a worthwhile exercise to focus on just one plant and learn it characteristics and its variability. As we have with Bloodroot, we are exploring the world of the Bluebell and finding more insights into the workings of genetics and ecology of this species. Growing them in a garden setting is a great way to have a hands-on experience with plants, which complements our observations of nature.

: Young leaves and flowers of Squirrel corn, Susquehanna State Park, Maryland

Here a patch of Squirrel Corn (Dicentra canadensis) underneath a Spicebush. The invasive Japanese Honeysuckle vine on the right threatens the scene.

: Susquehanna State Park, Maryland

A pleasing and common sight in the rich ravines in this part of the world is the Trillium Erectum Var. Album x Flexipes, this a unique Trillium to this area, and of course there are many variations of this to be found on the hillsides up and down the Lower Susquehanna River.

This is a really fun place to come and explore the sometimes subtle botanical qualities of this exceptionally beautiful native Springtime woodland herbaceous plant.

We are growing a nursery propagated version of this specific variety in our garden, and we are on year two of flowering!

: Susquehanna State Park, Maryland

Above, Mayapples with Squirrel Corn. The fresh green leaves of Spring are so elegant and precious. This time of Spring is really the best time to take the time to view this amazing transformation. Â Spring happens quickly for each species, and it is hard to predict when exactly which plant will be at its peak bloom, and if even the weather will cooperate!

: Susquehanna State Park, Maryland

: Ferncliff wildflower Preserve

: Ferncliff wildflower Preserve

Trillium Cernuum

: Trillium cernuum, Ferncliff wildflower Preserve

Sometimes the most inviting paths are the most difficult to find.

: Ferncliff wildflower Preserve

Below is the Trillium flexipes.

: Ferncliff wildflower Preserve

: Ferncliff wildflower Preserve

: Ferncliff wildflower Preserve

: Ferncliff wildflower Preserve

This Trillium was found deep in the Forest, where the trail was mostly overgrown with trilliums, Phlox and Bluebells, and we had to watch our step and at some point we had to turn around, so to not step on any plants, even as the trail blazes continued on painted on the trees ahead. Â This Trillium exhibits the characteristics of three species, theÂ cernuum, flexipes and the erectum! Â Please comment if you have an observation about this unique specimen!