One of my Mother’s Day gifts was a walk through the nearby wildflower sanctuary with my husband.  The sanctuary’s plants are protected by a tall metal fence that keeps the local deer from devouring the trillium, so it was a treat to see so many pristine plants. This variety is called purple trillium (trillium erectum), even though the blooms appear deep red. Trillium has such a stately aura to it, as though the blooms are merely gracing passersby with their beauty.                                 

The wildflower sanctuary also has a boggy section with a small stream that runs through it. This is the perfect spot for another of the more showy spring wildflowers that have colonized this area.    

Marsh marigolds (caltha palustris) are the perfect antidote to a gloomy, damp spring day. You simply can’t look at them and remain glum. It’s impossible. These plants have sited themselves more attractively than any gardener ever could along this curving stream bed.

  The trail through this part of  the sanctuary was very squishy, and the frogs were loud and happy. A male turkey had even flown in over the fence and was gobbling away. He was handsome, but alas, also camera shy.  (Plants hold still better than turkeys!)

Along with the showy plants were a host of more delicate blooms. This is a cut-leaved toothwort (Cardamine concatenate). It’s a member of the mustard family. A very charming plant.

More quiet beauty was displayed by these bellworts (Uvularia grandiflora).The way the blooms open face down is unusual and the whole plant has a strongly vertical aura that makes it stand out.

These anemone were everywhere. Their delicate stems and miniature apple blossom-like flowers were so pretty.
I really enjoyed this trek through the wildflower sanctuary.  If you have woodlands near you, get out and take a look.  These beauties won’t be here for long and you don’t want to miss out.