We decided to lace up our walking shoes, escape reality
and take a day trip to Nerstrand-Big Woods, one of our favorite state parks located an hour south of us.
On a mission to find spring flowers, we covered the trails in the southern portion of the park before our picnic lunch
and a portion of the northern side of the park after we ate.
When the leaves just start to come out on the trees, certain spring flowers blossom before shade dominates their world.
We found Large-Flowered Bellwort
Spring Beauty
Marsh Marigold
Wood Anemone
Jack-In-The-Pulpit
Wild Geranium
Bloodroot
Wild Ginger
and Early Meadow Rue.
However, the main reason for our hike that day was to see the blossoming White Trout Lily. These plants grow in colonies and carpet the forest floor throughout the park in the early spring.
We have been visiting this park for thirty years and this is our first time to see these flowers in full bloom.
There were spots along our hike where we stopped in complete awe. I love these moments in life!
Each stalk produces a single hanging white flower. We very carefully lifted one to admire the blossom.
In a month, one will be unaware these beautiful flowers exist in this park.
We love Minnesota!
Great photography, Paul!
3 comments:
Unbelievable! I can't even try to decide which was my favorite but the most unusual was the wild ginger! Wow, Mother Nature is quite the designer! Beautiful pictures, Paul!
How gorgoues!!! We love Minnesota, too!!!
I love those lilies - how amazing. My other favorite flower of the all the gorgeous photos was the Bloodroot - it looks so perfect!
I never knew ginger grew wild like that in Minnesota. Is it safe to pick and use to cook??
Wow - awesome photos. We really do live in such a beautiful state. I am a bit ashamed over the fact that I have seen so little of it, though! I don't think I have ever been to an MN state park! That's pretty bad...
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