April 5, 2011 Early Bloomers on the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail

The Pumpkinvine Nature Trail will eventually go from Goshen IN to Shipshewana IN.     Near the intersection of the trail and Elkhart CR 33 a section of the trail is surrounded by nice woods.  Many nice wildflowers bloom there from April through September.  On April 5 the first two wildflowers of the year were in bloom - Harbinger of Spring (Erigenia bulbossa) and Round-lobed Hepatica (Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa).  This photo shows very early flowers of Hepatica and leaves from last year; new leaves will replace the old ones in the next few weeks.

Round-lobed Hepatica - very early flowers of Hepatica and leaves from last year; new leaves will replace the old ones in the next few weeks.