April 12 - The Pumpkinvine Nature Trail

Common Blue Violet (Viola sororia, Violet family) is a native plant that is common in town as well as in woodlands.  There are several native species of blue violets, yellow violets and white violets that grow in northern Indiana.

Note the cut leaves and four petal flower of Cut-leaved Toothwort (Cardamine concatenata, Mustard Family)

Purple Springcress (Cardamine douglassi, Mustard Family)

The section of The Pumpkinvine Nature Trail between CR 31 & 33 opened in June, 2009.  When we hiked it for the first time that October we saw a few fall wildflowers still hanging on and leaves of many spring wildflowers, so we looked forward to seeing what would bloom in the spring.  We weren't disappointed - there were many spring wildflowers and in summer there was a good display of flowers in the open wetland areas.  On April 12, 2011 we saw these species blooming: Bloodroot, Spring Beauty, Dutchman's Breeches, Rue Anemone, False Rue Anemone, Cut-leaved Toothwort, Purple Springcress, Harbinger of Spring, Hepatica, and Common Blue Violet.  We will go back to this section of the trail frequently because the flower display changes throughout the year.  There's room for 1-2 cars to park where the trail intersects CR33 and the trail is hard surface, so it is accessible for most anyone.