This afternoon, we stopped the car and took a few pictures of the forest floor along the road where acre upon acre of dog-tooth violets (Erythronium americanum) were in bloom. Often, they produce a great many leaves, but no flower. This year seems to be a very good one for them.
I have heard that, in a garden, if you put a stone under the bulb, it blooms much better. I have never tried it, but it would seem likely as the Erythroniums in the pictures below are growing in a thin layer of soil over limestone.
I have heard that, in a garden, if you put a stone under the bulb, it blooms much better. I have never tried it, but it would seem likely as the Erythroniums in the pictures below are growing in a thin layer of soil over limestone.
Violets! That's what I forgot!
ReplyDeleteBut I am sure you agree that they are unforgettable, even if they can escape your memory for a while!
DeleteJust a wonderful time of year when you can see those carpets of wildflowers!
ReplyDeleteIt is the best time for wild flowers but you have to keep an eye open for them as none of them last all that long and can easily be missed! I is part of their charm.
DeleteI don't think you can beat acres of wild flowers growing where they are happy! What a lovely sight.
ReplyDeleteI agree Pauline. You cannot bet nature at its own game.
DeleteBeautiful flowers.
ReplyDeleteThy are but I wonder why the plants often do not bloom. That many blooms is rather exceptional. Near the house, they are just as numerous as in these pictures but there are very few blooms. It might be the stones underneath.
DeleteAbsolutely beautiful, both the flowers and the leaves. I always thought they liked rich deep soil. So I have been doing it all wrong.
ReplyDeleteThe soil might not be very deep where they are but it would be almost exclusively leaf compost so quite rich.
DeleteGorgeous!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to see so many in bloom. I think I can answer your question Alain regarding why they do not all bloom. Trout lilies need to be a certain age and produce two leaves from the basal area. If there is only one leaf the plant does not flower.
ReplyDeleteHi Patty,
DeleteThank you so much for clarifying that question. I would think they must be rather old when they start blooming as I have seen some stay with one single leaf for years.
I would really like to include some of those native erythroniums in my garden.
ReplyDeleteLovely. When we lived out To way, we had lots of trout lily in our woods. It's not so common here in Eastern Ontario.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the stones help with drainage. I had several bulbs rot this year, even though they were planted in pots. The lilies in your woods are beautiful! What a sight! :o)
ReplyDelete