Scarlet Elf Cup, Jack in the Pulpit, Miterwort

Scarlet Elf Cup is a fungus with a brilliant scarlet-red interior. It grows on decaying hardwood. One of the first mushrooms to appear in the spring.

Jack in the Pulpit is found in moist, shady woodland areas.

Miterowrt has a single flowering stalk. It has deeply fringed petals that resemble tiny snowflakes.

More spring blooms and a surprise

Smallflower Buttercup dots disturbed places.

European Field Pansy is beginning to bloom.

Creeping Charlie, Ground Ivy or Gill o'er the Ground spreads by horizontal runners.

A large Snapping Turtle sunned in a corn field.

Wild Ginger, Hobblebush, American Fly Honeysuckle

Wild Ginger forms dense colonies in forests.

Hobblebush has large outer sterile flowers and inner fertile smaller flowers.

American Fly Honeysuckle has twin flowers that are loved by flying pollinators.

Sedge, Bullfrog, Trillium

Pennsylvania Sedge brightens up forests and trails.

An American Bullfrog looks as if he just emerged.

One of the first Red Trilliums needed a hand in keeping its head up.

Insects, Snake and Flowers

Bumblebee

Six-spotted Tiger Beetle

Common Garter Snake

Blue Cohosh

Dutchman's Breeches

Yellow Trout Lily

Violets and Strawberry

Round-leaved Violets come up before their leaves fully unfurl.

Common Blue Violets can be white with blue lines.

Long-spurred Violets are found in rich woods.

Found one Wild Strawberry in flower.

Tiny white flower finds

Hairy Bittercress is noted by its basal leaves.

Spring Draba, common Whitlow Grass, will cover disturbed ground with its tiny rosettes and tiny white flowers.

Shepherd's Purse, or Lady's Purse, is a common weed a bit taller than Draba.

Two early spring finds

Trailing Arbutus has begun to flower.

One Bluet flower. Soon there will be many more.

Bloodroot

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) is unfurling from its leaves. Its name is derived from the Latin for "bloody." Its sap is red.

More signs of spring

Spring Beauties live in colonies. Where you find one there are usually more to be found.

Hepatica flowers rise above their leaves.

Mourning Cloak butterflies are the earliest to show up.

Early Saxifrage

Early Saxifrage grows in cracks in rocks. Its name actually means "rock breaker."