Early Spring Wildflowers in Caesar Creek Gorge.

Purple Cress

Yesterday I went to Caesar Creek Gorge State Nature Preserve. I really like this place. I went last Fall and remember there are many spicebush and paw paws, more paw paws I never see before.

It is a very cloudy and rainy day, so today is perfect for photographing spring wildflowers. I was disappointed with my Indian Mound Reserve pictures because it was really nice and sunny but that weather is terrible for pictures. This is a lot better.

I was alone, and it was really quiet. Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) are really not yet blooming. I only saw one tree with flowers. I think in April I will come again, because I feel the whole forest will become yellow spicebush flowers.

There were many early spring wildflowers. Harbinger-of-Spring (Erigenia bulbosa) and Hepatica (Hepatica nobilis) were everywhere. There were also many Purple Cress (Cardamine douglassii), and some are blooming!

Trout Lilly and Toadshade

Spring Beauty

False Rue Anemone

Cutleaf Toothwort

In low areas I found Toadshade (Trillium sesille), Trout Lilly (Erythronium), False Rue Anemone (Enemion bitternatum), Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica), Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) and Cutleaf Toothwort (Cardamine concatenata). False rue leaves sometimes made leaf carpets, there are many many. Trout lilly are not yet blooming, so happen I don't know if this is white or yellow trout lilly. I only saw 2 toadshades, only few spring beauty and bluebells, and only one cutleaf toothwart, I think it is still really early, and they are not blooming not yet.

Bloodroot

Most special, I saw 4 or 5 Bloodroot (Sanguineria canadensis). I wait for to see bloodroot every spring, and now I do not worry I will not see it.

Two plants I found and I am curious because I do not know them. If you know please tell me! One is very tiny, has opposite leather feel leaves, and little purple trumpet shape flowers. I think it is morning glory family. Other plant is not blooming not yet, but it has divided fan shape leaves.

EDIT: My sister helped me identify these plants. The first is periwinkle (Vinca minor). It is not native and sometimes moves into woods. The second is Dwarf Larkspur (Delphinium tricorne). It will bloom later this spring with purple flowers.