Mid April
A wildflower expedition to an area of the Wilderness that I had not previously explored, on
the north-facing slope of Eagle Mountain at mid-upper elevation. I found another rich cove
forest environment & a fairly uncommon plant that I'd been hoping to see for several years.
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I had been keeping an eye out for this plant for some time. Finally found a population!
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Spotted Mandarin, aka Nodding Mandarin or Spotted Fairy Bells (Prosartes maculata)
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The flowers usually hang singly or in pairs.
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A beautiful specimen
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One more pair of flowers...
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While the Spotted Mandarin was the highlight, there were lots of other things to see:
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Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides)
A good indicator species of a rich cove forest environment...
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Hairy Buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus)
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Trout Lilies were just blooming at the higher elevations!
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Showy Orchis (Galearis spectabilis) was just starting to make an appearance.
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One of several rock shelters found in one particular area.
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Another rock shelter adjacent to the previous one.
This one had a "cave" in the rocks that went back 20 feet.
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Broad-leaved Toothwort (Cardamine diphylla)
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Golden Ragwort (Packera aurea)
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An unusual rhododendron
A perfectly shaped specimen, it was on the crest of a high ridge. Far from any water, there was not
another rhododendron in sight. I think deer-browsing has given this bush its tree-like shape.
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Eight days after shooting the previous images, I made a return visit to what I now called Mandarin Cove:
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On my way up, I encountered my first Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium acaule) of the year
Oddly, I would not see another one all day! Bloom season was still early at that elevation.
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On this visit, Yellow Mandarin (Prosartes lanuginosa) was blooming with the Spotted Mandarin.
The large populations of both Mandarins led me christen this location "Mandarin Cove".
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Spotted Mandarin was still blooming profusely.
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Wake Robin (Common red form of Trillium erectum)
The higher elevations had a variety of trilliums besides the T. cuneatum and T. catesbaei so common down lower.
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Wake Robin (Less common cream-flowered form of Trillium erectum)
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Vasey's Trillium, aka Sweet Wakerobin (Trillium vaseyi)
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Showy Orchis was still early in its bloom period.
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Red Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
Finding this single plant on a cliffside was the highlight of my day!
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