View allAll Photos Tagged springephemeral
This flower shows various expressions depending on the natural light. It does not bloom on rainy days.
Sanguinaria canadensis (Bloodroot) is a Spring ephemeral that is native to East North America. Plants are found in woodlands and are among the first to flower in Spring. The leaves surround developing flower buds during emergence protecting them from cold.
The beautiful flowers produce no nectar and provide no reward for insect pollinators. Seeds possess specialized fleshy structures that attract ants. The ants carry seeds to their nests aiding dispersal.
The common name of this plant (Bloodroot) is derived from the red colored (and poisonous) sap of the roots.
Quebec, Canada
Camera: Olympus EM5 MkII and 8mm f1,8 lens
P4235220
A solitary Round Leaved Hepatica plant (Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa) emerges through layers of leaf litter and blooms in the Spring sunshine.
Round leaved Hepatica is a woodland plant that is native to East North America. It is among the first plants to flower in Spring and is adapted to cold by it's small size and by growing close to the ground. Plants also possess a covering of fine hair on leaves and stems that acts as insulation by trapping heat. Somewhat unflatteringly, the name Hepatica is derived from the three lobed shape of the leaves (and deep red-brown color after overwintering) that are supposed to resemble the shape and color of a liver.
This wild flower was photographed in situ taking care to minimize disturbance.
Quebec Canada
Olympus EM5 MkII
P4174283
Thalictrum thalictroides (rue anemone), Smth Farm, Madison County, Virginia
FWIW: Computational photography: the end of the left petal is blurred because the phone was set in "portrait" mode. Thus, the software keeps in focus everything within a pre-determined distance in front of and in back of the 'exact' point of focus and blurs out everything closer or farther away.
Fringed polygala (Polygala paucifolia) is a small woodland plant (height generally less than 9 cm) that blooms in Spring and is native to parts of East North America.
Seeds possess specialized fleshy structures that attract ants. The ants carry seeds to their nests and facilitate dispersal.
For more information see:
www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/polygala_pauc...
East Ontario, Canada
Camera: Olympus EM5 MkII
Lens: Olympus 8 mm f1.8
P5178337
This spring ephemeral is a small groundcover that emerges quite early after the cold winter, often pushing through snow cover to reveal its dainty flower... hence the name.
These flowers can cover wide swaths of hills and forest floors, producing a breathtaking display of early color and beauty.
About 4 inches high and one inch across, this plant was captured by my macro lens as I laid prostrate on my belly for the shot :)
Flowers of Marsh marigolds (Caltha palustris) appear golden yellow in the Spring sunshine.
For more information on these Spring epheremals see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caltha_palustris
Photo taken May 2017
A wetland, West Quebec, Canada
Camera: Olympus EM1
Lens: Meyer Optik Oreston 50mm f1.8 zebra (early twin zebra; M42)
P5192760
A couple of Katakuri were in full bloom by the trailside, shone by the spring sunlight on their back. They knew, however, their shiny moment would only last so long.
Erythronium japonicum, ‘Katakuri’ in Japanese, is a spring ephemeral plant native to Japan and Northeastern Asia.
Flowers of Dicentra cucullaria (Dutchman's breeches) bathed in a ray of evening sunshine.
These wild flowers are native to parts of North America and are typically found in moist woodlands. They are among the first plants to flower in Spring and are pollinated almost exclusively by bees, particularly Bumblebees. Seed dispersal is facilitated by ants that are attracted to specialized fleshy structures (elaiosomes) attached to the seeds.
Photograph taken April 2016, West Quebec, Canada
Olympus EM1 and 60mm f2.8 lens
Houstonia cerulae (bluets, Quaker ladies), LIttle Pond, Smith Farm, Madison County, VA 2022 Wildflower Weekend
While I have a dedicated macro lens (105mm), these beautiful flowers were captured with my long birding lens (200-500mm) at 500mm. I am happy with the result :)
This is my third and last image in this Yellow Crocus series. Featured here is a graceful, lateral stem and flower against a soft, velvet-blue background.
Happy and Blessed Easter, everyone!
Siberian squill grace a neighbor's front steps to the sidewalk... This ephemeral ground cover grows wild on many banks and woodland hills in our area.
These delicate bluebells were photographed in their natural woodland habitat at Greenwood-Ashworth Park in Des Moines, Iowa. The image captures the soft, bell-shaped blossoms in various stages of bloom, showcasing their transition from pink buds to vibrant azure petals.
Developed with Darktable 4.8.0.
Asian Bleeding Heart flowers found in the flower gardens in the Schumacher Lions Park located in the Town of Schumacher in the Township of Tisdale located in the City of Timmins in Northeastern Ontario Canada
The Asian bleeding-heart grows to 120 cm (47 in) tall and 45 cm (18 in) wide. It is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial with 3-lobed compound leaves on fleshy green to pink stems. The arching horizontal to 20 racemes of up pendent flowers are borne in spring and early summer. The outer petals are bright fuchsia-pink, while the inner ones are white. The flowers strikingly resemble the conventional heart shape, with a droplet beneath hence the common name.
The plant sometimes behaves as a spring ephemeral, becoming dormant in summer.
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Captured at the Arts Center, these Virginia Bluebells stand out with distinct bell-shaped blooms. Soft pink buds unfurl and change colors into a symphony of sky-blue trumpets—a perfect example of why you can't go wrong with these ephemerals.
Interestingly, the color shift from pink to blue signals to pollinators that the flowers are ready for business.
While staying at home to avoid Covid-19 I found a photography project in the back woods---the northern spring ephemeral wildflowers.
I dusted off my Lensbaby Velvet 56 and my Pentax 100mm macro and walked every morning looking for wildflowers in bloom. The nice thing is they come in waves---first the bloodroot, then violets, then mayapples, etc.
My goal has not been just to record the flower, but to make artistically pleasing images of them. This means taking a lot of pictures with various lens and then plenty of processing and cropping. I continue taking pictures of a particular species until I get what I want.
This image of False Solomon's Seal is the one I wanted!
false solomon's seal
arching out over the forest floor
a spring beauty
Image and haiku by John Henry Gremmer
The Carolina Spring Beauty (Claytonia caroliniana) is a small plant (usually 3 - 6 inches high) that is native to Eastern and Central North America. It is one of the first wildflowers to emerge in the spring, blooming quickly before the trees develop leaves and the forest canopy closes.
The flowers close at night or during overcast weather to protect their pollen from moisture. Their white petals feature vivid pink stripes to guide their specialist insect pollinator, the spring beauty mining bee, to their nectar.
The plant grows from small underground stems called corms and relies on ants for seed dispersal. Ants carry the seeds to their nests to eat a fat rich attachment called an elaiosome, effectively planting the seeds in nutrient-rich soil.
All parts of this diminutive plant are edible.
West Quebec, Canada
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
P5230794
The humble wood anemone is a small, obscure plant, down on the forest floor, and one of the first of the spring ephemerals to emerge.
To make this image I used my Lensbaby Velvet 56 lens and Pentax K1 camera. It is a manual lens and I shoot between f/5.6 and f1.8 hand held.
Every morning I walk the same route with my dog through the woods behind the house and look for wildflower photo opportunities. I could use a regular macro lens, but I like the artistic results of the images, but it has taken some time for me to learn how to use this Lensbaby lens.
wood anemone
a hint of the devine
on the forest floor
Image and haiku by John Henry Gremmer
Bellworts (Uvularia spp.) are native to Eastern Canada and the United States. Bellworts grow in deciduous woodlands and flower in the spring.
A woodland, West Quebec, Canada.
P5060320
Always love seeing new wild flowers! Especially when they are Spring ephemerals!
Seen in Victoria Park, in Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada.
on the hillside at the Chimneys area, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
Three leaves, three petals.... etc......
iNaturalist link www.inaturalist.org/observations/153610657
Jenny Pansing photos
I know I recently posted a shot of this wonderful spring ephemeral, but this one I came across today was extra showy!
Seen in Victoria Park, in Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada.
In random mode here, combing my archive for images that I like.
This dainty little flower is commonly called Siberian Squill around here, and it’s one of the first early spring ephemerals to color the woodlands as a groundcover.
Laying here on my belly to get this perspective, but it was well worth it :)
Here is a reverse-lens macro of a bloodroot blossom. I wanted it to appear both sharply focused and softly focused, and this is what I came up with. HDR. Also processed with Topaz ReStyle.
I do love "flower-season". =)
Nodding Trillium is a perennial plant that is native to east North America. It is the most northerly occurring of all Trillium species and typically occurs in moist woodlands. The flowers are situated below the leaves and are easy to miss. Flowering occurs April to June depending on location.
For more information see: www.naturemanitoba.ca/sites/default/files/NoddingTrillium...
Photo taken June 2024, old growth Eastern White Cedar woodland, Gaspésie, Quebec, Canada.
P6218991
This image is from the series I am working on in the back forest(that belongs to the county). I am getting the camera down on the forest floor and recording the comings and goings of the spring ephemeral wildflowers. These mayapples(Podophyllum peltatum) are abundant and when the plant matures and produces two leaves, they produce a beautiful white flower below their umbrella like leaves. They grow in large colonies derived from a singe root.
It looks like a prehistoric forest to me! I used my Lensbaby Velvet 56 to make this image.
tiny green umbrellas
growing up from the forest floor
it's spring again
Image and haiku by John Henry Gremmer
Rare in our part of New York but there's a relic Adirondack ecosystem in the Dorothy McIlroy Bird Sanctuary near Lake Como, NY.
White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) is native to East North America and grows in forested areas. Blooms occur in early Spring before the forest canopy closes.
White Trillium is the floral emblem of the Province of Ontario.
Photo taken May 2017. West Quebec, Canada
Camera: Olympus EM5
Lens: Meyer Optik Görlitz Oreston 50/1.8 (early zebra; M42)
P5200053
Continuing with the Crocus theme, today's image features the same flowers as yesterday, but with a completely different look. Evening was falling, triggering the light-sensitive flowers to close up their petals for the night.
I was on my belly here to get this perspective, using my 105mm macro lens. The joys of belly photography :)
Quite a few flower species share this light sensitivity phenomenon, and it is called NYCTINASTY: opening their petals to light in the bright daytime, then closing them again as the light fades to nighttime.
I'm taking a break from Flickr for a few days... see you on the other side :)
The nodding bell of Scilla siberica emerges from the grass, signaling winter's end. This frame captures the intricate details of the flower’s underside, showcasing the elegant geometry of its six petals.
Beautiful little flowers growing on the forest floors. Apparently they love limestone - which makes waterfalls a good place to find them!
The Red Trillium (Trillium erectum) is a wildflower native to eastern North America, thriving in moist, acidic forest soils.
This habitat preference contrasts sharply with the White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum), which thrives in neutral-to-alkaline environments.
The red trillium produces a single bloom, and the entire plant features a strict three-part symmetry.
Its prominent green structures are not true leaves, but are instead botanically classified as modified bracts.
Flowering occurs in early spring before the forest canopy closes, maximizing available sunlight.
It is an exceptionally slow-growing perennial that requires seven to fifteen years to produce its first bloom from seed.
Conservation of this species is critical, as harvesting the flower and stem deprives the plant of its ability to photosynthesize and ultimately kills the plant.
To achieve pollination, the Red Trillium does not produce nectar but instead emits a rotting-meat odor to trick carrion flies and gnats into visiting the bloom without providing a reward.
The pollinated flower develops into a single, fleshy, berry like capsule that degrades upon maturity. The seeds inside possess a fat-rich attachment called an elaiosome that attracts ants, which carry the seeds back to their nests to consume, effectively dispersing the seeds.
Mixed conifer-deciduous woodland. West Quebec, Canada.
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
P5067947
These little beauties were popping up in a lawn next to the woods, glowing the area with their charm.
Springtime is finally here!
The Red Trillium (Trillium erectum) is a perennial plant, native to eastern North America that grows in acid soils in mesic (moist) deciduous woodlands. It is a common understory plant that flowers in early spring (May) before the forest canopy closes.
Photo taken West Quebec, Canada.
P5172325
Ya gotcher Common Bluebells in England. Over here, we got Virginia Bluebells. (wikipedia)
Interesting that we both have fields of blue flowers in the woods in the spring. From what I've read, British bluebells last longer than ours. And while this looks like a nice field of them, this was unusual. They tend to be a little less...carpet-like.
East Woods
Morton Arboretum
Lisle, Illinois USA near 41.8145, -88.0708
April 17, 2026
More of my pictures from Magic Forests
More of my Virginia Bluebell pictures
More of my pictures from the Morton Arboretum
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This is a real photograph taken with a real, physical camera, and not created by AI.
© 2026 Jim Frazier All Rights Reserved.
20260417cz7-3053fullsharp
These beautiful lavender blue hepatica flowers were found stretching toward the warm sun in the woods of southwestern Pennsylvania. One of the earliest and prettiest spring ephemeral wildflowers!
Podophyllum peltatum (mayapple, American mandrake, wild mandrake, ground lemon), Paint Branch streambed trail between E. Randolph and Fairland Roads
Colesville, MD
12 June 2024
native plants
A rare partly sunny day that landed on a weekend... so Phil and I went out with our cameras to see the spring. We found a rich growth of Anemones in a woodland spot at Spring Grove Cemetery.
I'm glad we went. The news has been so distressing and frightening lately. I needed to see something that was unaffected... yet... by the chaos, cruelties, horrors, and fears.