It Must Be Spring!

Yes, the sighting of the first trilliums here in the Pacific Northwest is a definite sign of spring.

If you are not familiar with the trillium, it is a native wildflower. There are 39 species of trillium known. All types are easily identified by the three main leaf bracts that start to show in the early part of spring. These leaves are followed by a long stem on which the flower blooms. White flowers are most prevalent in damp, woody areas. Red flowers have also been known to show up where the white trillium grows. Other bloom colors include pink, white turning to pale purple, and yellow.

Many of us get very excited when we spot them as occurred today on my walk with a friend through the woods.

I have captured the delicate wildflower in a watercolor painting which has delighted many art patrons and collectors.

Janet's Trillium
Joanne Osband
watercolor

It is named for my friend who is addicted to trilliums and provided me with great photographs for the painting.

The Blue Wildflowers

Recently I have been posting blogs about the native plants as they bloom along the Chehalis Western Trail in Olympia, Washington. I found these lovely blue wildflowers which I believe have been planted either by birds or humans.

Blue Flax
The Blue Flax flowers last only a single day and do not transplant well. Blue Flax was discovered by Meriwether Lewis on the Lewis and Clark Expedition in the late 1700's.

Bluebell
This wildflower is definitely a Bluebell, but which variety I have yet to figure out. The bluebell sets seeds profusely and also multiplies by offshoots from its bulbs. As a result it can be a dominant species that carpets the woodland floor early in the spring. The drooping, blue bell shaped flowers, which give the plant its most common name, appear from April to June. The flowers may be violet-blue, white or even pink on rare occasions.