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| What's in Bloom this Week? |
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Spring 2005 Featured Plants
Virginia Bluebells
(Late April/Early May)
Virginia Bluebells, Mertensia virginica are a welcome sign
of spring, blooming from late April to early May. Although
the flower buds are pink at first, they turn blue when they
open to form drooping clusters of funnel shaped flowers. Bluebells
prefer rich woods and forested floodplains, and are abundant
along Pidcock Creek at the Preserve. Look for them along the
Parry, Audubon and Bluebell Trails. But don't delay! This
perennial plant is a spring ephemeral and will disappear without
a trace, typically by mid-May. For the gardeners among you,
bluebells will be offered at our 2004 plant sale.
Trillium (Early May)
There are nine species of trillium native to Pennsylvania.
As a group, they are easy to identify. All species have a
single stalk with three whorled leaves and a single flower
with three petals. In contrast, flower color varies widely
with species. Flowers may be white, yellow, green, pink or
maroon. Trillium grandiflorum, the pictured species, is a
curious case with flowers that start white but turn pink with
age. Trilliums are slow growing palatable plants that are
particularly prone to deer damage. Nevertheless, none of our
native species are so rare as to be in danger of extinction.
The Preserve has a wide diversity of species, although few
are abundant. Fine specimens can be found on the Parry, Harshberger,
Medicinal, Wayside and Naturalized Trails
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