May 12, 2011 ACRES Along the Wabash

Wild Hyacinths along the Wabash  (Click to enlarge)

Most years we drive to the ACRES Along the Wabash Nature Preserve in Wells County, on IN SR 116 between Markle and Murray, IN to see two plants we haven't yet found closer to Goshen - Wild Hyacinth and Shootingstar.  According to the USDA Plant Database, Wild Hyacinth hasn't been reported in Elkhart County.

Wild Hyacinth, Camassia scilloides

The USDA Plant Database  reports Shootingstars in some of the counties near Elkhart Co., but we haven't found them there yet.

Shootingstar, Dodecatheon meadia

Shootingstar close up

ACRES Along the Wabash Nature Preserve has four species of Trillium; that is remarkable.  All four are still in bloom, but past their peak.

Large-flowered Trillium turn pink at the end of the season

Red form of Drooping Trillium, past its prime

Toad Trillium

Prairie Trillium

Here is the list of the wildflowers we found in bloom in our 45 minute hike along the trail of 
ACRES Along the Wabash Nature Preserve on May 12, 2011:
Wild Hyacinth, Camassia scilloides
Shotingstar, Dodecatheon meadia
Large-flowered Trillium, Trillium grandiflorum 
Drooping Trillium, T. flexipes, both red and white forms
Prairie Trillium, T. recurvatum 
Toad Trillium, T. sessile
May-Apple, Podopyllum peltatum
Small-flowered Crowfoot, Ranunculus abortivus
Bristly Crowfoot, Ranunculus pensylvanicus
Buttercup, Ranunculus species
Doll's Eyes, Actaea pachypoda
Spring Beauty, Claytonia virginica
Wild Ginger, Asarum canadense
Blue Phlox, Phlox divaricata
False Mermaid, Floerkia proserpinacoides
Common Blue Violet, Viola sororia
Cream Violet, Viola striata
Cleavers, Galium aparine
False Rue Anemone, Enemion biternatum
Golden Ragwort, Packera aurea (photo below)
Aniseroot, Osmorhiza longistylis (photo below)

Golden Ragwort

Aniseroot