April 25, 2011 In search of a White Trout Lily

We've seen Yellow Trout Lily (Erythroium americanum) in several woods this year, but not the White Trout Lily (Erythronium albidum), which is much less common.  We've seen it at Oxbow County Park other years, so when I came past the park today, on the way home from Elkhart, I couldn't resist, in spite of the light rain, stopping to see if it is in bloom.  I wasn't disappointed.

White Trout Lily drooping in the rain, near Coffee Tree Shelter #2

Also blooming in the park were -

Spring Beauty - Claytonia virginica
Dutchman's Breeches - Dicentra cucullaria
Common Blue Violet -  Viola sororia
Purple Springcress - Cardamine douglassi
Cut-leaved Toothwort - Cardamine concatenata
False Rue Anemone - Enemion biternatum
Spicebush - Lindera benzoin
Buttercup - Ranunculus species (Perhaps R. hispidus, Swamp Buttercup)
Toad Trillium - Trillium sessile

Another Trillium, Prairie Trillium (T. recurvatum) is in bud stage - it will bloom soon.

While walking on the central trail through the woods I saw a group of 5 deer; 2 ran away and 3 just stood there and looked at me.  A Sandhill Crane flew overhead.