Category Archives: Flowers

Lady Slipper

Lady Slipper

Spring moves along. Each passing week brings more exciting flowers to discover while walking in the woods. Lady Slippers are just making an appearance around the region. This is the first one I found in bloom. There were about a dozen more in various stages of getting ready to bloom. Now that I found the pink ones, I’ll be looking for some yellow ones. The two different color varieties prefer different environments.

Redstart Warbler

Redstart among the trilliums

Here at the Thompson WMA, the trillium (grandiflora) season coincides with the spring bird migration. Once in a while, you can capture a warbler enjoying the trilliums while looking for insects. I was on my knees photographing the trilliums when the redstart posed for me. At one point, this male redstart came so close to me I was not able to focus the lens!

A Fun Guy

Large fungus

A bad pun, but a pretty (to me) image. I happened upon this fungus while strolling along the Potomac River at Ball’s Bluff park. There are large areas filled with the Virginia Bluebells. Part of the credit for preserving the Bluebells goes to Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy for removing invasive mustard plants. Thanks! It makes my photography easier. Ball’s Bluff National Battlefield Park is the home to many types of wildflowers. I’ll have to try and count the ones I have seen over the years.

My Bleeding Heart…

Bleeding Hearts and Virginia Bluebells

The Ida Lee park in Leesburg is the home of a garden of the Loudoun Master Gardeners. There is almost always something blooming there. Currently, the Bleeding Hearts and Virginia Bluebells are blooming (as well as others). Bleeding Hearts are one of my favorites. The flowers are so delicate and move in the slightest breeze. They also seem to glow when the light is right. A drop of nectar forms on the bottom of the blossoms attracting ants, bees, and other insects.