It's been a cold spring, but at last, the wildflowers have begun to bloom, and life is returning to the forest. Over the last 2 weeks, I have been photographing some of the many brilliant flowering and non-flowering (or yet-to-flower) species that have begun popping up in the woods and wetlands near my home in western Michigan, USA.
Despite the fact that much of the land surrounding my home has been previously been transformed into farmland, the pockets of protected and restored woodlands and wetlands are home to a surprising diversity of plant life. Many of the species I found while on my walks are native, whereas many others have been introduced for ornamental or medicinal purposes by European settlers over the last 300 years. Species like Great Mullein (Verbascum thapsus), Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata), Red Deadnettle (Lamium purpureum), and Common Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) are all examples of plants brought to the America's for medicinal purposes, whereas other introduced species, such as Japanese Pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis) and Common Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) were introduced as ornamental plants and later escaped to form wild populations.
Regardless of their origin, I find these plants species to be a fascinating additions to the living history of this region's biodiversity, and learning the history behind how, when, and why they were introduced to the region gives me a deeper appreciation for the ephemeral beauty that is afforded by these spring plants. I hope that this post inspires you to learn a bit more about the plant life popping up in your region of the world this spring as well.
FLOWERING PLANTS
Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica):
Large White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum):
False Rue Anemone (Enemion biternatum):
Purple Cress (Cardamine douglassii):
White Fawnlily (Erythronium albidum):
Virginia Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica):
Sharp-lobed Hepatica (Hepatica acutiloba):
Round-lobed Hepatica (Hepatica americana):
Common Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis):
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis):
Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris):
Red Deadnettle (Lamium purpureum):
Lesser Periwinkle (Vinca minor):
Japanese Pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis):
Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides):
Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria):
Yellow Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum):
Cut-leaved Toothwort (Cardamine concatenata):
Bristly Haircap Moss (Polytrichum piliferum):
Willows (Genus Salix):
Genus Forsythia:
OTHER PLANTS
Partridgeberry (Mitchella repens):
Northern Purple Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia purpurea ssp. purpurea):
Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum):
Smooth Rockcress (Borodinia laevigata):
Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides):
Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum):
Canada Mayflower (Maianthemum canadense):
Eastern Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus):
Great Mullein (Verbascum thapsus):
Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata):
Striped Wintergreen (Chimaphila maculata):
Pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata):
Common Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca):
Small White Leek (Allium tricoccum):
Onions (Genus Allium):
Hogweeds (Genus Heracleum):
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