Cove Hardwood Nature Trail

  This is quite possibly the most beautiful place on earth...

 

The sea of white above is thousands of Fringed Phacelia, Phacelia fimbriata, blossoms like these.  This flower is usually white, but every so often I find a purple bloom.

Sharp-lobed Hepatica, Hepatica nobilis var. acuta, is another early spring wildflower that is usually white.  It also comes in shades of lavender, ranging from magenta to blue.

Canada Violet, Viola canadensis.

Blue Cohosh, Caulophyllum thalictroides.  "Blue" refers to the bluish color of the leaves, not the modest yellow-brown flower.

  

 White Trillium, Trillium grandiflorum.  Have you ever seen this much Trillium?  Truly amazing!

Sweet White Trillium, Trillium simile, with a visitor.

White Trillium, Trillium grandiflorum.

Dwarf Ginseng, Panax trifolius.

Wild Ginger, Asarum canadense.  This is one of the coolest wildflowers I have seen in a long time! 

How funky is this flower?!  This is the first time I have ever seen Wild Ginger.  It is definitely one of my favorites!

I saw a total of 21 species when  visited the Cove Hardwood Nature Trail on Thursday, March 22nd.  Other species I saw that are not pictured include: 

Yellow Trillium, Trillium luteum

Common Blue Violet, Viola sororia

Early Yellow Violet, Viola rotundifolia

Foamflower, Tiarella cordifolia

Rue Anemone, Thalictrum thalictroides

Halberd-leaved Violet, Viola hastata

Star Chickweed, Stellaria pubera

Spring Beauty, Claytonia caroliniana

Trout Lily, Erythronium umbilicatum

Bishop's Cap, Mitella diphylla

Wood Anemone, Anemone quinquefolia

Squirrel Corn, Dicentra canadensis

Dutchman's Breeches, Dicentra cucullaria

Cut-leaved Toothwort, Cardamine concatenata

Yellow Mandarin, Disporum lanuginosum