One Week Later in Spring

What a difference a week makes. I went back to Bois de Liesse (May 13) and was greeted by a carpet of trilliums. The dog toothed violets have mainly vanished. The red trilliums looked tired. But it was glorious in the woods with white trilliums popping up everywhere.



They, too, will not last long as the leafy canopy spreads and will soon cast shadows on the forest floor. For now all is the bright green of spring.



The ferns, which last week were slowly uncurling, are now upright and plentiful.

Some poke their fronds above the riot of trilliums.



Each year I feel I need to go on this pilgrimage to pay hommage to these flowers. Their time here is short yet their presence seems to announce spring for me. Each year I aim my lens looking for the perfect shot.



of the perfect trillium.



This park is home to wildlife from birds to squirrels and this raccoon who eyed me warily as I stopped to admire him. There are signs, too, warning of coyotes in the area. They are a fairly recent addition to our urban landscape.



He stopped for a drink after checking us out and then warily moved on. We continued our walk refreshed by just being in the forest.

Spring Takes Hold

Spring is a parade of delights as each day brings new changes. Each flower takes its turn, some lasting only days while others linger. I walked up in Summit Woods on May 5. The woods were full of dog-toothed violets (aka trout lily or erythronium americanum). Their splotchy leaves and bright yellow flowers were easy to spot.



We also spotted some sanguinaria canadensis. The trilliums were still reluctant - some leaves but no sign of flowers.



On May 6 a friend and I went to Bois-de-Liesse where the trilliums were starting to open. In most spots, it was still only and occasional flower that revealed itself.



Ferns were starting to unfurl.



And Sanguinaria reached for the sunlight.



Some interesting fungus was growing near a dead log. Anyone know what it is?



A cluster of dogtoothed violets grew near a tree trunk.



I always search out the red trilliums which open before the white ones. They are far less plentiful than their white cousins and so each one seems precious. Did you know that trilliums take 7 - 10 years to go from seed to flower?



Here is a variety of flowers together. Enjoy as they won't last long.

The Forest Floor Wakes Up

New growth pokes through the layer of dead leaves. Out of last year's debris, regeneration begins. The red trilliums seem to open before their more proliferous white cousins.

Sometimes solitary, sometimes in small clumps their deep red is a sharp contrast to the sepia around them.



Slowly the ferns are unfurling. They looked like they were huddling together. Warmth in numbers. The temperature was a hovering around 5°C (about 41°F), definitely chilly for the end of April.



We did find a few open, white trilliums, but mostly they were just starting to bud.



Like the trout lilies (erythronium), they seem to be waiting for warmer temperatures.



Small patches of hepatica have sent up their first tentative blooms.




Sanguinaria could be spotted here and there.



The forest floor is covered with dry, decaying leaves. Some looked almost ghost-like. Slowly they will return to the soil and soon the forest floor will be covered with the green of new growth.

Flora and Fauna in May

Walking in Parc-nature du Bois-de-Liesse

I have rarely seen a pileated woodpecker this close (last time was from a window). It was happily pecking at some rotten wood on the forest floor, unperturbed by our presence.



They are really majestic creatures - large birds compared to their woodpecker cousins.  The forest is just waking up. Green is slowly replacing the sepia dried leaves.



This time of year I am on the lookout for trilliums. They grow quickly and last but a short time. The red ones were visible - the white ones merely buds. Only a few days more and the forest floor will be covered with their white, perky blooms.



The red flowers are hard to spot once the white ones open. There are many fewer red trilliums around. Apparently new trillium plants take up to 7 years before they start to produce flowers.



I'm not sure what this flower is.  I am just amazed at how things grow - pushing through the dried leaves of fall and finding light. Their season is short as they only last until the tree canopy fills in and covers the light.

Addendum: I'm told this white flower is Sanguinaria Canadensis or Bloodroot.

Through Parc Bois-de-Liesse

Take a walk with me through Bois-de-Liesse where the forest is coming to life.



A carpet of trilliums covers the forest floor. It is definitely the height of the trillium season. Some are starting to fade into pink.



We spotted one red trillium; its bloom was drooping down.



New growth - changes from day to day.







I had to keep stopping to admire. The only drawback were the mosquitoes that have emerged from the still waters. I am afraid there are a few less than when we arrived. Some of my swatting hit the mark.

Wintry Stream

Wintry Stream, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

Another gentle snowfall has changed the landscape to wintry white. We walked at Bois de Liesse. Despite the small amount of snow, cross country skiers were out shushing through the trails. This stream has not frozen and a lone duck swam in the frigid waters. I hope its downy insulation is thick.