Dianne, I'm so grateful for your intricate seeing and the exquisite language of your reporting! I've walked by these leaves so many times and now will appreciate who they are and their place in our ecosystem.
I enjoyed learning that. Makes our conventional definition of “productivity” look silly and our obsession with “exponential growth” absurd (if not, psychotic).
Beautiful flower. Trout Lily seems like a strange name for such a graceful flower. I love seeing the photos and stories of many that I will never see. Arabesque is a very apt description.
It has several common names. Trout Lily for the spots on the leaves, like a spotted trout. It's also called Fawn Lily, also for the spotted leaves. Another name is Dog Tooth Violet, which is for the shape of the underground corm, which is long, narrow, pointed, and often slightly curved, like a dog's tooth. There must have been a purplish one, but the common ones I am familiar with are not violet colored.
These names refer go other members of the Erythronium genus as well, so American Trout Lily
Certainly, Laura, you have my permission, and thank you for the opportunity! We should first ask permission though from Stephen Barten to again use his photo of the Trout Lily Mining Bee with the Erythronium. Would you like for me to ask him, or should you do it? Probably better for you too, since it is your publication. His photo is at https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/207380274 and you can ask permission there.
Lovely, I am in Minneapolis, MN and the Trout Lily leaves are up but few flowers are yet to bloom. The Seek app was calling them Fawn Lilies. I had not heard them called that before. Eloise Butler Wild Flower garden opened today for the season. There were Snow Trillium, Skunk Cabbage, Blood Root and a few Marsh Marigolds all just starting to bloom.
Fawn Lily is another name for trout lily. They are also called dog tooth violets. Of course they are neither Lily nor violet. They really do deserve their own name though, don't they?
Love this storytelling of the life of a trout lily. Over the last few years I've observed how pockets are growing into swaths of leaves to then splay themselves open. But ours here are yellow. Vibrant and the notice of a proper spring.
I saw the first leaf two days ago and then a splattering of brown spotted leaves yesterday. I believe we have the Erythronium americanum. Very common and gorgeous.
These and other forest loving early bloomers are so special. Getting their timing just right between the cool/cold weather of winter and the later overshadowing of leafed out trees. They and the bees make me smile. No weather forecast. Just an innate knowing of when to show up and do their thing. Oh, to be so casual about ones part in this world!
Thinking about the single Trout Lily opening early, I wonder if it might be resting on a slightly more fertile bit of ground. Perhaps from animal droppings or even the remains of some creature. Even a dead mouse might be of benefit to the Trout Lily's bloom.
Very interesting speculation on why one bloomed ahead of the others. It's all so local, when we're talking about where a bit of dropping appeared, or where the moisture was just right. Thanks for this perspective. I hadn't thought about what might have made the soil better there.
Diane, the beauty of the trout lilies and the bee, both the photos and your words about them, brought me to tears in awe of this wonderful world we are part of. Thank you.
Enjoy your photos and "story telling" of this plant! I enjoy all spring ephemerals! The trout lily is a favorite, and there are several colonies of it in our yard/neighborhood.
Dianne, I'm so grateful for your intricate seeing and the exquisite language of your reporting! I've walked by these leaves so many times and now will appreciate who they are and their place in our ecosystem.
Thank you for that kind comment!
"Close as lovers sharing a pillow," and you are!
Dovetailing lady bee and trout lily lifespans, just perfection...
I enjoyed learning that. Makes our conventional definition of “productivity” look silly and our obsession with “exponential growth” absurd (if not, psychotic).
Beautiful flower. Trout Lily seems like a strange name for such a graceful flower. I love seeing the photos and stories of many that I will never see. Arabesque is a very apt description.
It has several common names. Trout Lily for the spots on the leaves, like a spotted trout. It's also called Fawn Lily, also for the spotted leaves. Another name is Dog Tooth Violet, which is for the shape of the underground corm, which is long, narrow, pointed, and often slightly curved, like a dog's tooth. There must have been a purplish one, but the common ones I am familiar with are not violet colored.
These names refer go other members of the Erythronium genus as well, so American Trout Lily
Wonderful post! I would like to publish at Bleeding Heartland if you are willing.
Certainly, Laura, you have my permission, and thank you for the opportunity! We should first ask permission though from Stephen Barten to again use his photo of the Trout Lily Mining Bee with the Erythronium. Would you like for me to ask him, or should you do it? Probably better for you too, since it is your publication. His photo is at https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/207380274 and you can ask permission there.
I posted a comment there. I hope he will see it and respond.
Lovely, I am in Minneapolis, MN and the Trout Lily leaves are up but few flowers are yet to bloom. The Seek app was calling them Fawn Lilies. I had not heard them called that before. Eloise Butler Wild Flower garden opened today for the season. There were Snow Trillium, Skunk Cabbage, Blood Root and a few Marsh Marigolds all just starting to bloom.
Fawn Lily is another name for trout lily. They are also called dog tooth violets. Of course they are neither Lily nor violet. They really do deserve their own name though, don't they?
Yes indeed! Just fun to see how far ahead of us you are
. Things are really just waking up here in the north,
Love the images and imagery. Such poetic outpouring of knowledge. As always, I enjoy and applaud.
Thank you Patty. Love you.
I giggled out loud when I thought of you laying on the ground trying to see…the other side of the flower. Beautiful pictures you write Diane
Thanks Elaine.
You dropped some astonishing (to me) information! Thank you
Learned a few things myself. Thanks, Mish.
I love your sensitive writing and amazing photos too and agree with so many others’ applause….How wonderful to be a part of “the community of Diane”!
Beautiful and very unusual. Thank you for sharing this info.
I’m considered fairly knowledgable about nature by those around me, but I always learn from you.
Thank you for your kind words, Bonnie.
Love this storytelling of the life of a trout lily. Over the last few years I've observed how pockets are growing into swaths of leaves to then splay themselves open. But ours here are yellow. Vibrant and the notice of a proper spring.
Ah, you have one of the yellow trout lilies. I have never seen one. Do you know which one it is?
I saw the first leaf two days ago and then a splattering of brown spotted leaves yesterday. I believe we have the Erythronium americanum. Very common and gorgeous.
And they are VERY COMMON where you are! How marvelous that must be.
Our first color of spring!
These and other forest loving early bloomers are so special. Getting their timing just right between the cool/cold weather of winter and the later overshadowing of leafed out trees. They and the bees make me smile. No weather forecast. Just an innate knowing of when to show up and do their thing. Oh, to be so casual about ones part in this world!
Thinking about the single Trout Lily opening early, I wonder if it might be resting on a slightly more fertile bit of ground. Perhaps from animal droppings or even the remains of some creature. Even a dead mouse might be of benefit to the Trout Lily's bloom.
Very interesting speculation on why one bloomed ahead of the others. It's all so local, when we're talking about where a bit of dropping appeared, or where the moisture was just right. Thanks for this perspective. I hadn't thought about what might have made the soil better there.
Diane, the beauty of the trout lilies and the bee, both the photos and your words about them, brought me to tears in awe of this wonderful world we are part of. Thank you.
Aww Jo, thank you for your kind comment. I share your feelings about these amazing faces of mother nature.
Enjoy your photos and "story telling" of this plant! I enjoy all spring ephemerals! The trout lily is a favorite, and there are several colonies of it in our yard/neighborhood.