At the arboretum today, we saw the results of a very recent controlled burn. Many of the prairies were blackened, and also most of the woods, and even the wildflower walk with the southern exposure, where we saw the beginnings of Dutchman’s breeches 3 weeks ago. Though blackened now, it won’t be long before the green profusion of spring covers all the ash. In several places we saw the still-burning remains of dead trees. There was one hickory that still had a good fire inside, and it felt good, too, since it was cold out this morning, 32 with a cold north wind.
Burned grasses

Blackened ash trunk

 

 

 

 

 

Glade
Still-Burning hickory log

 

 

 

 

Draw

Shooting star foliage (Dodecathion meadia)

 

 

 

 

 

Three weeks ago this is where we saw foliage of Dutchman’s breeches and Celandine poppy

 

 

Bloodroot- the only blooming wildflower we saw today

Sassafras bud

 

 

 

Trillium

 

 

 

 

 

Jacob’s ladder

 

 

 

Columbine