Gayle Pille: Spring woodland wildflowers bloom large - 'don't leave footprints, take only pictures' - NKyTribune

Our spring woodland wildflowers are blooming large, and hikers and photographers are hitting the trails to view them.

“Boone County Cliffs has a great variety of wildflowers and just down the road is Middle Creek Park with its wonderful display of Blue-eyed Mary’s,” said nature lover Linda Altevers of Erlanger.

“Highland Cemetery, especially Trails 3, 4 and 5, has lots of Blue Phlox, Jacob’s Ladder, Bloodroot, and Cutleaf Toothwort. The cemetery also has an outstanding display of Wild Hyacinth. You won’t see anything like it anywhere.”

Wild geranium. (Photos by Peggy Yaeger

Another favorite of Linda’s is California Woods on Cincinnati’s east side with perennial favorites Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Twin Leaf, and Large Leaf Trillium. Wherever you go to view wildflowers, it’s a new show weekly through the month of April as the different flowers show off their beauteous blooms.

Botanist and Thomas More biology professor emeritus Dr. Bill Bryant is an expert on spring wildflowers. “Our early spring woodland wildflowers are tied to a photo period,” said Dr. Bryant. “It doesn’t make any difference what the temperature is, they’re triggered to bloom as the days get longer. They flower before leaves come on the trees and have a large leaf surface area for light to be absorbed. Light is what triggers the flowers to bloom. They are spring ephemerals; they do their thing very quickly. They need to send up a stalk, flower, form fruits and seed, all in a very short period of time.”

Science teacher Peggy Kelly has been observing our spring wildflowers for years, especially at Doe Run Lake with its Hepatica, Wild Leek, Wild Geranium, Columbine, and Fire Pink. “Just as the wildflowers are popping up the pollinators are coming out of their dormant stage,” said Peggy. “Butterflies, moths, flies, bees, ants, and beetles all pollinate our wildflowers. You’ll also notice that the thick leaf litter has decomposed through the winter, providing nutrients the wildflowers need in early spring.”

Wild geranium. (Photo by Peggy Yeager

“What we’re seeing are nature’s success stories,” said Dr. Bryant. “These plants have made many adaptations over millions of years.”

“Many of our white flowers are close to the ground and have no scent; insects not attracted to scent, such as ants and beetles pollinate them. You’ll notice a lot of white flowers with lines or stripes. Insects use the stripes to direct them to the nectar and pollen,” said Dr. Bryant. “Yellow and blue flowers are primarily bee pollinated, and red flowers by hummingbirds. Also, most violets have an inconspicuous flower underground where pollination takes place and seeds are produced.”

Our wildflowers have some interesting common names and life histories as well. Bloodroot gets its name from the blood-like sap of its root. Native Americans used this red-orange latex as a dye for baskets, clothing, war paint, and as an insect repellant. The abundant Spring Beauty grows from underground tubers that have a sweet chestnut-like flavor that Indians relished. Dutchman’s Breeches are named because its blossom looks like white pantaloons hanging upside down. Squirrel Corn is named because its root tubers resemble corn kernels. And Trout Lily for the similarity of its leaf markings to brook trout.

Hepatica. (Photo by Peggy Yeager)

Folklore on wildflowers abound. Rue Anemone was thought to cure foot odors. The girl who pulls up the root of the May Apple will soon become pregnant. Wild Ginger, a member of the Birthwort Family, has always been associated with childbirth. Mountain women used the root to ease the pains of pregnancy and Indians used it as a contraceptive. Trout Lily was a cure for the hiccups. Indian women boiled the root of Sessile Trillium to make a love potion, whereas an old mountain superstition says if you pick the trillium, you will cause it to rain. To this day Black Cohosh is said to be effective for women’s menstrual cramps and hot flashes.

Peggy reminds folks though not to pick or dig our woodland wildflowers. “Because of the fragile environment they live in they should never be disturbed,” said Peggy. “Take only pictures, leave only footprints.”

Gayle Pille is a local naturalist and nature writer who many know through her work to establish the five-mile network of nature trails at Highland Cemetery in Ft. Mitchell. She created the cemetery’s popular 25-year-old Wildlife Enhancement Program and works with a small team of volunteers to maintain the cemetery’s wooded walking paths. An avid birdwatcher, Gayle also builds custom wildlife nest boxes for businesses, parks and residences through her business, www.woodlandhabitat.net