This is the beginning of our 24th year of looking at wildflowers in Cook County, MN. We are three senior women who just love to get out and explore and learn new things. We are even getting together all winter but don't find too many flowers at that time, but no matter.

Gaywings - Photo by Lorraine Adele Anderson

Wednesday, June 1, 2005

Our friends told us of many Gay Wings (Fringed Polygala) off the Meridian Road, where they pick blueberries. We were pleased to see so many. They are a small flower but these were extra small. From there we went to the Superior Hiking Trail parking area off the Old Ski Hill Road. We began going north towards "The Fen". It was a hot and buggy day. The car thermometer read 75 & 85 degrees. We wore our bug nets whenever we were outside. The Tamaracs are so lovely there especially at this time of year with their soft spring green needles. As we walked we saw: Wood Anemone, Spring Beauty, our first Nodding Trillium, Violets and our first Clintonia. We turned around before we reached "The Fen" and ate lunch in the car and rested and cooled off in the car. We then followed the trail south to the beautiful garden of Marsh Marigolds and Goldthread after that. A special treat was seeing our first orchid of the year, Early Coralroot!
The highways and roadways are beautiful with the fruit trees, Juneberry & Pin Cherry. Winter Cress (a mustard) provides a yellow along with Marsh Marigolds and many Dandelions.
When we got back to town we had our first chance to see the Cuckoo Flower. It's on private city lots and we asked permission. It's the only place we know of to find the flower. Home and happy about 4:00

 

 

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  Be sure to stop back throughout the Spring and Summer to see our weekly wildflower reports from Lorraine Anderson of Grand Marais, Minnesota.