NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/668245
14 NEBRASKAland • MAY 2016 A Wildflower Walk By Paula Hoppe It's time for a walk. The winds of winter, which held us captive with their bite, have been subdued by the bluster of spring breezes. All around the browns and grays of the late winter landscape are melting into the greens of spring, and flowers have begun to cast aside their winter blankets of dry leaves and grasses. • Amble down the woodland path and you will find Dutchman's breeches, with their delicate fern-like foliage, and flowers resembling small pantaloons hung out to dry. May-apple rises from the forest floor; its single blossom nodding beneath two leaves. Tiny delicate fawn lilies linger, and downy blue violets abound, the latter being the only food source for fritillary butterfly larvae. • A little diligence may be needed to find the plants blooming in prairies this month. Plains phlox hugs the ground, and Rocky Mountain pussy- toes in west and central Nebraska rarely eclipse 6 inches. The plainleaf pussy-toes found in eastern portions of the state, however, may rise to a respectable 15 inches. Also blooming this month are white and plains wild indigo, prairie larkspur, and ground plum. The 5-inch yellow flower of the Plains evening primrose portends warmer days to come, its ephemeral blossom reflecting the sun in miniature. • Wet soils, creek banks and sloughs yield their own beauties, including the rare small white lady's-slipper orchid, meadow anemone and marsh-marigold. The tall arching stems of Solomon's seal are easily found statewide. White and yellow water-crowfoot grow with their feet in the water, the cup-like flowers rising above the surface. So, take a stroll, smell the moist spring earth and discover the diverse blooms of May. ■ t t May-apple Prairie larkspur Plains wild indigo White water-crowfoot Marsh marigold Fawn lily PHOTO BY MIKE FORSBERG PHOTO BY GERRY STEINAUER PHOTO BY JON FARRAR PHOTO BY JUSTIN HAAG PHOTO BY JON FARRAR PHOTO BY JON FARRAR