T
his
is the beginning of our 24th
year of looking at wildflowers
in Cook County, MN. We are three
senior women who just love to
get out and explore and learn
new things. We are even getting
together all winter but don't
find too many flowers at that
time, but no matter.
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Our first venture was a trip
behind the Power Plant to see
the Bird's-eye Primrose. They
are so small & so beautiful.
For those interested in the path
we took - we started from Grand
Marais going southwest on #61
> 13 > 7 > 45 > >
44 > 7 > 61 > Spruce
Creek DNR place where we walked
around enjoying the creek and
some areas of tall timber.
During our journeys we saw many Marsh
Marigolds that just brighten
your day and make you smile.
Then to Cutface Creek Wayside
rest for our lunch on a picnic
table. Then #61 going northeast
> up and back on Birch Road,
then home. The sun was not out
most of the day so some Spring
Beauty and Bloodroot
were not open. However Spring is
Here! The trees are budding out
in many shades of green
contrasting with the darker
evergreens. We saw our first
blooming fruit tree - the Juneberry
and what a nice display on the
Birch Rd. The Strawberry
and Wood
Anemone are blooming.
Sometimes it's difficult to tell
them apart because the flowers
are about the same size. The
center of the Strawberry is
yellow while the Wood
Anenome is white.
Click
here for the most recent report!
Here
are some early bloomers to look
for in the
area:
Anemone,
Wood - Anemone
quinquefolia
Arbutus,
Trailing - Epigaea repens
Bloodroot
- Sanguinaria canadensis
Dandelion,
Common - Taraxicum
officinale
Dutchman's
Breeches - Dicentra
cucullaria
Early
Sweet Coltsfoot - Petasites
palmatus
Hazelnut,
Corylus
Marsh-marigold
- Caltha palustris
Pussytoes, Field - Antennaria
neglecta
Red
Maple
- Acer rubrum
Spring
Beauty - Claytonia
verginica
Strawberry,
Common - Fragaria
virginiana
Violets
Be sure to stop back
throughout the Spring and
Summer to see our weekly
wildflower reports from
Lorraine Anderson of Grand
Marais, Minnesota.
