May wildflowers

While the wildflower season in Kalamazoo started slowly this year, it accelerated in the last week or so. Some hot days, some heavy rains and the leafing out of the canopy finished the season for many of the Spring ephemerals. Squirrel Corn, Dutchman's Breeches, and Marsh Marigold all had seed pods where the blossoms had been. The Toothwort leaves are yellow; they'll likely be completely gone next week. Trillium are past their peak and looking pretty ragged. Wild Phlox and Blue Eyed Mary are still in flower, but ebbing.


Of course, other flowers are now coming into their season. Lots of Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) and Jack in the Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) were out. It looks like the peak for Mayapple flowers and white wood violets (perhaps Viola sororia albiflora). Swamp buttercups were in bloom along the Kalamazoo River where the Redbud trees on the far bank were spectacular.