Sudbury Photographer Ray Thoms and I went to the North Road of Port Loring to see what we could see.  Although it was very cold and windy we did see some interesting scenes.  Sharp-eyed Ray saw a family of foxes terrorizing some birds possibly nesting near or on the ground.   Here are some of what I saw …

Painted turtle in pond before Pakesley…

Lily pads are rising…

Marsh Marigolds are maturing …

Pale Corydalis are seeding … see the little legume, “pea” pods?

Barren strawberry  liking the sandy spots on Smith Bay Road.

First Hobblebush (another Viburnum related to Northern Wild Raisin and High Bush Cranberry) seen on Balsam Creek Road.  The link says that the Hobblebush is a nectar source for Spring Azure Butterflies which I’ve been seeing for a week or so.  There is a photo of one taken a few days ago in an earlier post here.

Click on the photo to see the very long proboscis of this bumble bee sucking nectar from these blueberry blossoms…

Another possible pollinator …

 

What is going on here?   Does this prove that blackflies actually DO pollinate blueberries?

NOPE.  

(Another folktale destroyed.)

 

Speaking of folktales, this might clear up some folktales making the rounds about Trilliums.

There are five species of Trillium that grow in Ontario: Trillium Grandiflorum (Ontario’s Provincial Flower); T. erectum (Purple Trillium); T. cernuum (Nodding Trillium);  T. undulatum (Painted Trillium) and the endangered T. flexipes (Drooping Trillium)

The Endangered Drooping Trillium is only seen in a few places in SW Ontario…https://www.ontario.ca/page/drooping-trillium

I have never seen a Painted Trillium in Ontario, but Walter Muma has them covering the whole Province.

Here are the three that I see commonly in the spring.

The earliest bloomer is the Trillium erectum, also known as red trillium, wake-robin, purple trillium, Beth root, or stinking Benjamin:

Within a week after seeing the above,  the Trillium grandiflorum , white trillium,large-flowered trillium, great white trillium, white wake-robin will fill our woodlands…. to turn pinkish, purplish as they mature, leaving a seed casing behind.

Although very common, the latest to bloom around here is not often seen.  The Trillium cernuum (nodding trillium, nodding wakerobin, or whip-poor-will flower)  is just starting to bloom now.

Its blossom is about half the size of the grandflorum and hangs down, under the triplet of leaves at the top of the plant.  See the unfurled flower bud hanging down in the middle of this photo?  In a day or two that flower will bloom for a few days, splendidly obscured from sight from all but those who know how to find it!

Marsh Marigold looking in the mirror:

Oft photographed scene at high water ….

Field of narcissus and daffodils just west of  Loring crossroads…

I see that Ray has posted a photo of Trilliums on his website.   Maybe photos of the fox family will also appear.