May 17, 2011 Trillium's Fading - What's Next?

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Late stage of Large-Flowered Trillium, T. grandiflorum

Impressive shows of Large-Flowered Trillium are fading.  Most of the large white flowers at River Preserve County Park - Benton have turned pink and are shriveling.  What's next?  There won't likely be any shows with the same impact this spring, but there will still be nice displays of a variety of flowers.  Today at River Preserve County Park - Benton there were nice panoramas of trees and  flowers.

Red Bud trees along the canal at River Preserve County Park

A mixed bouquet below the Benton Spillway

No single species dominates now, as Large-Flowered Trillium did.  The display above includes white Sweet Cicely, pink Wild Geranium and gold Ragwort.  There are big spreads of Sweet Cicely, but the heads of small, lacy white flowers aren't showy.

Sweet Cicely, Osmorhiza species

Jacob's Ladder, Polemonium reptans

Flowers of Jacob's Ladder, close up.

According to the USDA Plant Database, Jacob's Ladder, Polemonium reptans, grows in almost all Indiana counties, but we have only seen it in three woods, including River Preserve County Park.  "Ladder" evidently comes from the arrangement of leaflets on the leaves.

Miami-Mist, Phacelia purshi

Miami-Mist close-up

 Miami-Mist is another uncommon, but not rare, plant at River Preserve County Park.  It grows along the wooded trail north of the canal, not far from the dam.

Dame's Rocket has just begun flowering.  Within a week or two there will be big shows of it along roads and trails.  It is an escapee from gardens that grows in the wild, including at the River Preserve.
Dame's Rocket is sometimes mistakenly called Phlox.  Dames' Rocket has four petals, but Phlox has five.  Compare the two below.

Dames Rocket,  Hesperis matronalis

Wild Phlox, Phlox divaricata

Flowers blooming at River Preserve County Park - Benton today were---
Sweet Cicely, Osmorhiza species
Spreading Jacob's Ladder, Polemonium reptans
Miami-Mist, Phacelia purshii
Golden Ragwort, Packera aurea
Wild Geranium, Geranium maculatum
Blue Phlox, Phlox divaricata
Dame's Rocket, Hesperis matronalis (Not native)
Mayapple, Podophyllum peltatum
Solomon's Seal, Polygonatum pubescens
False Solomon's Seal, Maianthemum racemosum
Clustered Snakeroot,  Sanicula gregaria 
Common Blue Violet, Viola sororia
Cream Violet,  Viola striata
Buttercup, Ranunculus species
Cleavers, Galium aparine
Wild Ginger, Asarum canadense
Prickly Gooseberry, Ribes cynosbati
False Rue Anemone, Enemion biternatum
Toad Trillium, Trillium sessile
Large-flowered Trillium, T. grandiflorum