Fontenelle Forest Flowers

Eastern Nebraska’s snow had disappeared  by the time we arrived for Easter weekend, but the wildflower season was still anything but advanced.

A few early bloomers were poking up from the forest floor, though, among them Virginia waterleaf and Dutchman’s breeches–here surrounding a fine scarlet cup fungus.

We never did find a Hydrophyllum in bloom, but the Dicentra had started on some of the slopes in the Fontenelle Forest upland.

Claytonia leaves were everywhere in evidence, and there were a few widely scattered colonies in bloom.

It won’t be long until this spring beauty is joined by dozens of others in the Missouri River bluffs, from showy orchis to dogtooth violet. It’s been years–decades–since I’ve witnessed an entire flower season in the midwest, and the sight of the early blossoms this Easter weekend made me miss it, and envy a little those who have only to step outside.