Bike Path Spring Wildflowers

Last week I posted on my time spent admiring the different color forms of the common sharp-lobed hepatica along the forested slopes of the Hockhocking-Adena bike path.  While quite cheerful, it's certainly not the only spring ephemeral to grace the landscape in that area and with the warming temperatures and recent rain things have really exploded in the past few days.

Hockhocking-Adena bike path in-between Nelsonville and Athens

As mentioned in the prior post, the Hockhocking-Adena bike path runs from Nelsonville to Athens along 18 miles of an old, abandoned railroad grade.  The overhanging trees create a tunnel-like cathedral on your walk/ride with the Hocking River flowing on the one side and rich, mesic woodland slopes and terraces on the other.

Large-flowered trillium abound along certain stretches of the path 

Come spring those forested slopes come alive with some of the finest wildflowers shows in the county and are not to be missed for those who live in the area.  It's not uncommon to come across whole hillsides covered in a mass of large-flowered trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) that will simply take your breath away. I think even the most uninterested of bikers and joggers have to notice their sensational appearance as they pass by.

Such a glorious sight

Large-flowered trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)

For those that didn't know already, the large-flowered trillium is the state wildflower of Ohio and can actually be found in just about all 88 counties.  While us humans admire these fine floral wonders with our eyes only (or at least should), the same cannot be said for white-tailed deer; the trillium are a delicacy that makes their mouths water. Combine that with their over-populated numbers and it can cause this beautiful plant to quickly disappear.

Large-flowered bellwort with large-flowered trillium in the background

While the trillium will certainly be the first to catch your eye and attention, the diversity of other wildflowers mixed in will do even more to whet your appetite.  Large-flowered bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora) add a nice splash of color alongside the trillium as they dot the hillside with their drooping yellow blossoms.

Large-flowered bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora)

Rue anenome (Thalictrum thalictroides)

I'm not sure how much attention and appreciation the bellworts get from other admirers and wildflower enthusiasts but I find their delicate and unique appearance to be on par with their rest of their lily family relatives.  Likewise, the common rue anenome (Thalictrum thalictroides) may be overlooked and passed over as simply not deserving of any extended observation time but their central spreading stamens and crown of snow-white petals demand more.

The very short-lived blooms of the twinleaf (Jeffersonia diphylla)

One of spring's most serendipitous of finds for your blogger tends to be those of the very short-lived and aptly-named twinleaf (Jeffersonia diphylla). While the plant itself is not all that uncommon, finding it in perfect bloom certainly is! Much like bloodroot flowers, those of the twinleaf only retain their petals for a few short hours before dropping them and setting to seed.  As a friend of mine once said, you must be careful not to breathe when photographing these beauties.  Even the slightest breeze can send their petals scattering to the ground.

Squirrel corn (Dicentra canadensis)

Squirrel corn (Dicentra canadensis)

Another wonderful yet fleeting sight come April along stretches of the bike path are the lacy leaves and intriguing flowers of squirrel corn (Dicentra canadensis).  Now, I know what you're thinking...how does a plant get the name of squirrel corn?  Well, this member of the fumitory family (Fumariaceae) has underground bulbets that look very similar to kernels of corn that apparently squirrels like to dig up.  I've never observed this activity but I'll take the naming botanist's word for it.

Dutchman's breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)

Dutchman's breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)

Often growing right alongside its closely related squirrel corn brethren, dutchman's breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) is another uniquely-shaped member of the fumitory family.  One can find their common name to be much more transparent and understandable even at first glance.  I can easily see the resemblance of its flowers to that of a pair of pants drying on the clothesline, albeit upside down. When in flower the two species are hard to confuse but I can understand some's frustration when only in its vegetative stage.  In my experience dutchman's breeches is more of a green color while those of squirrel corn have a distinct silver-blue/teal hue to them.

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)

Further down the path near my residence the forest opens up due to a tornado that passed through the area a few years ago.  It's been interesting to observe what species have responded positively to the increased sunlight conditions and vice versa.  The bloodroots (Sanguinaria canadensis) have been one to take full advantage of the canopy opening; quickly spreading and sending up more plants each year.  The scattered patches in this area have nearly doubled in size in just the past three years.

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) closed

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) open

I'm not sure which stage I find more pleasing when it comes to the bloodroot's flowers.  The closed version with its petals unfurled and appearing like a tulip have a beauty all their own, even when compared to the more traditional and crowd favorite fully opened.

Yellow trout-lily (Erythronium americanum)

It wouldn't truly be spring without the charming trout-lilies adding their colors to the landscape.  The yellow trout-lily (Erythronium americanum) typically blooms about a week before its white cousin (E. albidum) here in the hills and hollers of southeastern Ohio and is a personal favorite of this botanist.

Fragile fern (Cystopteris protrusa)

Large-leaf waterleaf (Hydrophyllum macrophylla)

It's not all about the wildflowers as some plants purely in their vegetative forms can add a touch of class and color to those willing to keep a keen eye open for them.  The suitably named fragile fern (Cystopteris protrusa) is one of our state's most frequent pteridophytes but often goes unnoticed for its small size and humble personality.  On the opposite end of the spectrum is that of the large-leaved waterleaf (Hydrophyllum macrophylla).  It's conspicuously marked leaves densely line the bike path for much of its journey in such a manner that the unknowing might mistake it for an invasive weed.  It's "water stained" leaves add an artful touch to any stroll or ride down the bike path.  They won't begin their flowering cycle until closer to summer once the canopy is leafed out and the shade thickened.

I highly encourage any readers and followers living in the Nelsonville and Athens area to get out and experience the Hockhocking bike path for themselves as spring begins to really kick into gear and hit peak levels.  There's so much more to see and experience along its scenic route than I could ever share here!  I'll be back in a couple weeks to bring the next wave of floral sights as spring continues its inevitable march towards summer.

Ohio's Spring Gold Rush

Rich wooded slopes of a diverse mixed mesophytic woodland

Each and every spring around this time of year a particular brand of anxiousness and excitement invades the mind of this blogger in anticipation for Ohio's very own gold rush.  Only the reward isn't the increasingly rare natural element we humans have placed so much curious value in, but rather the presence of one of our state's most rare and absolutely spectacular of spring ephemerals: the goldenstar-lily (Erythronium rostratum).

Goldenstar-lily (Erythronium rostratum)

With the warmth of spring finally settling into the Ohio river valley and sunny skies on the docket, I decided it was now or never to head down south into Scioto county to see if luck and timing was to be in my favor.  The luminous goldenstars only grace the re-awakening woodland landscape for a very short time and once that window of opportunity slams shut it's a long wait for their reappearance the following spring.

Goldenstar-lily (Erythronium rostratum)

Goldenstar-lily (Erythronium rostratum)

My stomach knotted a bit as my car turned onto the secluded back road that winded along the stretch of Rocky Fork Creek that had long been known to harbor these great rarities.  After famed and brilliant Ohio botanist/ecologist Lucy Braun's chance discovery of these delicate beauties back in 1963, it would be nearly 50 years before a new population outside this specific watershed would be discovered.  As fate would have it, I happened to be along for the ride the day this serendipitous uncovering was made and I documented it HERE back in the spring of 2011.

Goldenstar-lily (Erythronium rostratum)

With my car slowed to a crawl and nervous eyes fixated on the forested roadside and lower slopes of the mixed-mesophytic woodland, I waited for any flash of unmistakable golden yellow to catch my attention.  Suddenly one appeared, then two and three, and like the flood waters of a compromised levee, dozens and dozens began to spill into view.  Their dazzling tepals were spread wide open, attempting to catch every ray of sunlight radiating down from the naked canopy above.  While our other species of Erythronium droop and nod during antithesis like a shy introvert, the same cannot be said of the goldenstar.  It seems to know its beauty and authority is second to none. In a show of strength, its peduncles hold the flowers aloft to proudly gaze at the heavens above.

Distribution map of Erythronium rostratum (courtesy BONAP)

Taking a glance at the range map of the goldenstar it becomes noticeable that this peculiar plant is not only interesting for its looks but its natural range(s) as well.  Here in Ohio, the species is at the northernmost fringe of its predominately southern distribution and a part of one of three distinct population clusters.  I wonder what caused the goldenstar-lily to occur in three divergent, different sized zones?

Mixed-mesophytic forest home of the goldenstar-lilies

Even without the hundreds of vibrant yellow faces of the goldenstars it wouldn't have been too hard to conclude spring had arrived under the beech, tuliptrees, and oak.  A number of other spring wildflowers were beginning to glance out from under the decaying leaf litter as the evergreen fronds of Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) relinquished their monopoly of the color green.

Harbinger-of-spring (Erigenia bulbosa)

Awakening bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)

Other associate plant species were in bloom or bud throughout the mesic slopes such as: slender toothwort (Cardamine angustata), spring beauties (Claytonia virginica), harbinger-of-spring (Erigenia bulbosa), bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), early bluegrass (Poa cuspidata), and wood rush (Luzula echinata).

Wild Leeks (Allium tricoccum)

Hillside full of emerging wild leeks

Easily the most noticeable part of the greening landscape was the mass emergence of thousands of wild leeks (Allium tricoccum) from their subterranean homes.  Their bulbs have long been a popular spring vegetable and onion substitute for foragers and go amazing with the soon-to-arrive morel mushrooms!  Their leaves soon wither away and disappear completely before the plant flowers in the deep shade of the summer woods.

Goldenstar-lily (Erythronium rostratum)

While I typically prefer overcast days for wildflower photography to best balance out the shadows and contrast, one really must catch the goldenstar-lilies on days of full sun.  Their sensitive flowers quickly close under cloud cover and are a far cry from the full potential these specimens photographed are boasting.

Goldenstar-lily (Erythronium rostratum)

Just waking up

There's been many occasions where timing has provided your blogger with moments of fleeting to severe frustration.  There are few things worse than driving long distances to find wildflowers just about to bloom or just past peak and beginning to set seed.  Fortunately, that was hardly the case this time around and I was able to enjoy a full afternoon pleasantly spent in the company of one of Ohio's most remarkable and fervent of spring ephemerals.  I image as I sit down and write this all the flowers shown in these pictures have done their job and are now featuring their characteristic beaked fruit capsule.  With any luck the seeds within will be viable and help to ensure these wonderful plants are around for years and generations to come.  I'm already looking forward to next year's gold rush and the bounty of goldenstars that await!

The Many Faces of Sharp-lobed Hepatica

Your blogger decided to take full advantage of the sunny and warm afternoon mother nature bestowed upon southeastern Ohio today and laced up his walking shoes and strolled out to the bike path for a bit of exercise.  The long and cold winter certainly softened me up a bit and with prime hiking season nigh on arrival, I certainly could use the physical activity!

I'm very fortunate to have the Hockhocking Adena bikeway pass very close to my residence and I've used it countless times both on foot and on my road bike in the past.  The bike path runs along the Hocking River for a large majority of its 18 mile trek from Nelsonville to Athens and conveniently allows for a very scenic and stunning country ride at almost any time of the year.  However, I would be quick to vote spring as the prime time to set foot down its hardened asphalt stretches.  Few other spots in all of Athens county has the wildflower displays and species diversity as some select, well-known hillsides and ravines do!

As I headed down one of my favorite sections I found it hard to keep at a steady, fast pace as my eyes scanned the steep gradients and deep, sweeping hollows for signs of spring's influx of color.  I quickly noticed the prominence of sharp-lobed hepaticas (Anenome acutiloba) blooming en masse all throughout the woods and was surprised to see so much diversity in the different shades of color their sepals were portraying.  As I mentioned in my earlier post, this species of early spring ephemeral can range from white to pink, to purple and blue as it emerges from underneath the leaf litter and the bike path was certainly backing up that claim with a splendid performance. I decided to make use of my iPhone's camera and documented as many of the varying color shades as I could and figured it would make a fun, short post to share on here.  All six photographs below were taken along the two mile stretch of bike path I walked today and only increased my giddiness for the avalanche of wildflowers soon to break loose!

Classic white-colored form

The most commonly found and occurring of all the hepatica's color schemes is the classic off-white.  It's not at all rare to see some pinkish hues as they first break bud but that quickly disappears and is replaced with a brilliant snow white radiance.

Blue-purple hue

Majestic lavender form

There's a hundred and one different shades of purple to try and discern from with the hepaticas and I'm not one to be picky on how you want to go about it.  Other than white, I think the most commonly seen color pattern seems to be the purplish-blue mixture as seen on the left.  You can also have one of my personal favorites in the perfectly saturated majestic hues of the lavender specimen on the right!

Lovely deep pink coloration

Crowd-pleasing white and light purple/blue hue

Every once in a while I would see a few small clumps of a lovely deep pink coloration hiding in the shade of the towering trees overhead.  They were wonderfully accompanied by the bi-coloration of some specimens exhibiting a white and bluish-purple mixture.  I've observed before other hepaticas showing off the same pattern but in varying shades of pink and purple instead of blue.

Brilliant, rich deep blue heptaticas

It's only appropriate I save the best for last in the royal, deep blue hued hepatica clumps.  You have to catch these early on before their colors fade to a softer blue/purple in my experience and I was certainly pleased to be lucky enough to have my timing just right.

Dozens of other spring ephemerals were just beginning to break bud and sprout along my walk and it won't be long before the bike path is set ablaze with their seasonal beauty and splotches of color.  I'm sure I'll be back again soon to share the Hockhocking's priceless spring fireworks show!

Marietta Natural History Society April Meeting Speaker

This year is already promising to be a busy one for this blogger!  Between leading field trips, speaking gigs, and attending a handful of conferences, I am one tied up fellow.  I love being invited to participate and be a contributing member to the number of fine organizations and events I'm fortunate enough to be affiliated with. For a full list of my public speaking and leadership appearances so far this year one doesn't need to look further than the left column of my blog just a very short scroll down the page.

Ohio's native orchid species collage 

First up on the docket for 2013 is this month's meeting for the Marietta Natural History Society.  Dave McShaffrey, professor of Biology and Environmental Science at Marietta College was kind enough to ask me to give a presentation for their monthly gathering.  The topic will come as little to no surprise for those of you who read this blog with any kind of consistency: Ohio's native orchids!  Orchids have always been my deepest passion in the botanical world not only for their physical beauty but their fascinating life histories, habitat niches, and deep diversity.  I'm very fortunate to have come across 44 of Ohio's 47-49 taxa (depending on if you count hybrids/varieties in the count) in my travels and excursions and I hope to bring those species and their findings to life.

So for any interested parties living in southeastern Ohio and/or in/near Marietta, I invite you to attend the monthly meeting at Marietta College's Selby Hall room 150 at 7:00pm on Thursday, April 11th!  It's free and open to the public and I'd love to see you there!  Hopefully you'll see some orchids you've never seen or knew existed along with some interesting facts.

Early Bloomers at Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve

I think it's safe to say spring has finally arrived after thoroughly taking its sweet time all through the month of March.  It's quite a breath of fresh air to read the expanded weather forecast and see highs in the upper 50's and 60's for the foreseeable future.  Those seemingly endless weeks of chilled temperatures and spotty snow showers have finally come to an end.

This past weekend saw your blogger return home to west-central Ohio from the hills and hollers of the southeast to spend the Easter holiday with family.  In typical fashion I spent some of my free time taking advantage of the nearby botanical attractions.  I knew with the newly minted warmer temperatures and weather the flora was sure to still be a bit lethargic in waking up but some early bloomers could still be expected breaking through the thawed soil.

Little Miami River flowing through the deep limestone gorges at Clifton Gorge

One of the best stations for early wildflower viewing accompanied with a healthy dose of impressive geologic formations is Clifton Gorge state nature preserve just outside Yellow Springs.  The state and national scenic Little Miami River flows through a stunning stretch of deep dolomite limestone gorge cut during the waning periods of the last glacial epoch and creates some spectacular views.

White cedars growing directly out of the gorge's limestone cliff walls

The resulting geologic features have created a microclimate able to sustain the cool, moist conditons needed for many of the rare and unusual disjunct northern plant species that still reside within the canyon walls.  A walk along the river during the winter and early spring months easily shows off the many evergreen eastern hemlocks (Tsuga canadensis) and northern white cedars (Thuja occidentalis) that grace the limestone cliff faces and lower slopes.  Other interesting northern species such as red baneberry (Actaea rubra), Canada yew (Taxus canadensis), and mountain maple (Acer spicatum) persist in the unique climate as well.

Maidenhair spleenwort fern

Carex plantaginea sending up flowering culms

The tiny, delicate fronds of the maidenhair spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes) is rather out of place in this area of the state but is right at home on its favored habitat of moss-covered limestone boulders and rock slumps in the shadows of the gorge.  Another 'evergreen' plant not typical of west-central Ohio is the conspicuous clumps of plantain-leaved sedge (Carex plantaginea) persisting alongside the maidenhair spleenwort fern on the cool, moist, soil-covered rocks.  Many of them were welcoming the more spring-like temperatures by sending up their flowering culms; ensuring their presence in the limestone chasm would continue on in the next generation.

Harbinger-of-spring (Erigenia bulbosa) in full, albeit tiny bloom

One of the surest signs of spring's arrival is the diminutive appearance of the aptly-named harbinger-of-spring (Erigenia bulbosa).  Bravely facing the frost-prone mornings, this dainty wonder proudly displays its charming flowers for the season's first insects.  It can also go by the common name of salt-and-pepper for its contrasting white petals and purple-turning black anthers.  It's certainly an easy wildflower to pass over but those with a keen eye can take pleasure in its early-spring charisma.

Sessile trillium just about to break bud

Sharp-lobed hepatica (Anenome americana)

It wouldn't truly be spring here in the Midwest without the abundance of sharp-lobed hepatica (Anenome americana) breaking bud and painting over winter's browns and greys with their endless shades of white, pink, purple, and blue.  The attractive mottled leaves of the sessile trillium (Trillium sessile) accompanied the surrounding hepaticas but were still a few days away from breaking bud.  I've always admired them more for their leaves than flowers anyway; which is not something that can really be said for any other species of Ohio trillium.

Red and white cedars precariously clinging to the cliff's edges

Much like the white and red cedars of Adams county fame, Clifton gorge has its own accompaniment of trees clinging precariously to the limestone cliff's edges and sheer walls.  Growing right out of crevices and gaps in the rock, the white (Thuja occidentalis) and red cedars (Juniperus virginiana) grow excruciatingly slow and are much older than their size would suggest.  This nearly-stagnant growth pattern also allows them to attain unique, gnarled forms of a strangely artistic appearance.

Snow trillium (Trillium nivale)

One of the gorge's most hallowed and anticipated of wildflower denizens are those ever-so-popular and beloved snow trillium (Trillium nivale).  The shallow, limestone gravel-derived soils at the base of the cliff faces are the perfect set up for this early bloomer to thrive in.

How many trillium can you see?

Snow trillium (Trillium nivale)

I shared their awakening in the similarly-situated limestone gorge of Fort Hill in my last post but I don't think anyone could ever truly tire of seeing these floral wonders.  There's just something to be admired and said about the year's first showy and magnificent wildflower.  All those chills and long months of winter instantly melt away from your heart and soul at the very sight of these as they peak out their heads from the decaying leaf litter.

Snow trillium (Trillium nivale)

It's a bit bittersweet for me to have one of my absolute favorite wildflowers be one of the very first out the gate each season.  I can't think of a more anticipated and welcoming sign that spring is here once again and the avalanche of blooming wildflowers has only just begun, but at the same time it's sad to know it will be another year before I get to sit down and catch up with these close acquaintances.  In a weird way it makes me question and ponder my own mortality.  How many more chances will I have to spend time in their presence before its time to return my bones back to the earth?  It certainly gives every waking moment with them and in the great outdoors in general a great deal of value.  Why I always encourage everyone to get outside and breath in the fresh air as much as they can.  Sure, the natural world will always be there to enjoy but unfortunately the same cannot be said for our mortal selves.

White cedars lining a long-fallen limestone boulder along the banks of the Little Miami River

Once through the narrow limestone gauntlet of the gorge, the water slows itself to a much more calm pace and slowly meanders its way downstream.  Without the protection of the precipitous canyon walls the microclimate quickly dissipates and with it goes the unusual plant species/communities.  I'm very thankful for the souls who had the wisdom and mind for conservation to protect this incredible place early on from the stain and reckless behavior of mankind.  It's a great deal of comfort to me knowing that whenever I want to experience arguably the finest inter/post-glacial limestone gorge in the entire state it's always there with open arms.