We went to the arboretum today, early, before everyone else got there. Lots has happenned since we were there last time, three weeks ago. Here’s what we saw:

Mary Isabelle with Celandine poppies blooming

Dog-tooth violet (aka trout lily, Erythronium albidum, liliaceae, lily family)

Fiddlehead fern

Sassafras (Sassafras albidum, Lauraceae, avocado family) I love the unfolding of the sassafras flowers and the yellow-gold color

The morning sun across the meadow

Pussytoes (aka Indian tobacco, Antennaria parlinii, Asteraceae, daisy family)

Glade

Bird’s foot violet (aka pansy violet, hens and roosters, Viola pedata, Violaceae, violet family)

Hoary puccoon (Lithospermum canescens, Boraginaceae, Borage family)

Bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora, Liliaceae, Lily family)

Rue anemone (Anemonella thalictroides, Ranunculaceae, Crowfoot family)

Trillium (aka Wake robin, Trillium sessile, Liliaceae, Lily family)

Wild hyacinth (Camassia scilloides, Liliaceae, Lily family)

LIZARD !!! sunning

Wild ginger (Asarum canadense, Aristolochiaceae, Birthwort family)

Celandine poppies (Stylophorum diphyllum, Papaveraceae, Poppy family)

Bluebells (aka Virgina cowslip, Mertensia virginica, Boraginaceae, Borage family)

TERRAPIN, just dug out of the mud, looks like. I looked him up- he’s a three-toed box turtle, common in Ozark woodlands.

Mayapple, unfurling (aka mandrake, Podophyllum peltatum, Berberidaceae, Barberry family)

TURTLES sunning !!!

Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria, Fumariaceae, Fumitory family)