Tallgrass Prairie in Spring

As winter ends, the tallgrass prairie is a chaotic place, the three-to-five foot grass stalks lying in a tangled mess. All is brown. There is little to see.

tallgrass prairie in April

Spring Wildflowers in a Minnesota Forest

The deciduous forests of eastern North America seem very dull as winter becomes spring. The snow vanishes to leave a layer of brown leaves under the leafless trees. 

central Minnesota forest in April

Nevertheless, as the temperatures warm, it is irresistable to wander outdoors in the forest.

And, then you spot a spring wildflower!

Can you see it? A pink flower (pink form of rue anemone,
Thalictrum thalictroides)

Spring Flowers

Spring is late on the Colorado Front Range this year, cold and snow still coming. Add to that closures due to corona virus concerns and it seems a good time for flower pictures. Here are flowers to anticipate

snowdrops, Galanthus

Plant Story--The Mysterious Star-lily (Sand-lily, Leucocrinum)

star-lily, sand-lily, Leucocrinum montanum

Early in the spring on the Rocky Mountain Front Range, star-lilies (Leucocrinum montanum) bloom. They're neat little plants, very visible for a week or two, so early that your hike might be in sleet. Although common in some areas and easy to recognize, star-lilies are pretty mysterious.

Visiting Colorado--Devil's Backbone, Loveland, Colorado in June

Devil's Backbone is a distinctive rock outcrop on the western side of Loveland, Colorado. 

Along the northern side, the land has been preserved as Devil's Backbone Open Space (link). The hiking trails lead west and north through Rocky Mountain Front Range grasslands. It is a favorite hike of mine.

Here is what you might see in June.

Visiting Northern Colorado--Horsetooth Mountain Park in Sunshine

Five days later (see last week's blog) I revisited Horsetooth Waterfall Trail, this time on a sunny morning after three days of warm weather.

Flowers that close in cold weather were open!

Visiting Northern Colorado--Horsetooth Mountain Park in Spring Snow

Horsetooth Mountain Park trail, in falling snow

April 28. I needed to check out the trailside plants of Horsetooth Mountain Park, on the west side of Fort Collins Colorado, for a plant hike I was going to lead the next weekend.

When I got there it was snowing. Lightly, mixed with sleet, but persistently.

One of the things I learned as a prairie ecologist: "do it now, the weather later may be worse."

Hiking out in the sleet/snow was cool but not unpleasant and I knew the weather forecast was for snow for the next three days. Out I went!

Plant Story--Eastern Pasqueflower, Anemone patens, Heralding Spring

The pasqueflowers are open! The native plants agree that it is spring.

When I tell people pasqueflower is the first wildflower of spring, they look at me doubtfully because crocuses and daffoldils are in full bloom. But across most of its range, there are no native herbs that flower earlier in the spring than pasqueflower.

Pasqueflower is an anemone, Anemone patens. The name refers to its blooming time, from the Old French for Easter. In some places it is called May Day flower--same idea!