Surrounded by Toadshade Trillium (Trillium sessile), Drooping Trillium (Trillium flexipes), spent Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus ficaria), and Mayapples (Polophyllum peltatum), Green Jack stood unassuming among the lush green growth of the spring foliage along the Little Miami River...and I nearly passed him by!
Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) stands tall beside Toadshade Trillium (Trillium sessile). Its three leaves, which grow on a separate stalk, are just starting to unfurl.
Heavy with raindrops, the three leaves on this plant are much further along than those in the previous photo, and you can see just how large they can get.
"Jack" is the club-shaped spadix, while the cone-shaped spathe is the "pulpit."
...even Jack can look dramatic when the shadows fall on the dark hillside and rain threatens overhead.
The little patch of Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) I found last week along the Little Miami River is still safe and sound, but the water is getting higher, and the rain keeps falling...
Last May I drove up to Cedar Bog (which is really a fen...) in Urbana, Ohio and photographed Jack-in-the-Pulpit plants along the boardwalk. Many of those "pulpits" had the dark maroon striping on them. Click here for that post.
Looks like we are seeing a few iof the same plants. I went looking for the jacks today.
ReplyDeleteYour're a bit ahead of us. It will be another six to eight weeks before I expect to see Jack-in-the-pulpits here.
ReplyDeleteFantastic photos, Kelly! I really do love spring wildflowers, although the only thing we're seeing is pussy willows.
ReplyDeleteKelly, These are such excellent photos-so clear, sharp, and perfect in every aspect. You do such a beautiful job on every photo you take. Such a joy to visit your post on a daily basis. Mickie :)
ReplyDeleteI love these shots—both the flower and the vibrant green. You've now prompted (shamed?) me into a trip tomorrow to check on a nice patch of Jack-in-the-pulpit just up the road. If yours are blooming, mine should be, too.
ReplyDeleteWOW, that's all I have to say! Beautiful pictures once again!
ReplyDeleteWonderful shots, Kelly! Not too many spring flowers here yet; although I have a few tulips about to "spring" forth.
ReplyDeleteKelly, I love that you live in an area where you are able to explore nature and photograph all these beautiful specimens. Many of which I've only heard of and seen in botanical art. When I was a little girl I came across an old old gardening guide with botanical drawings, I think my Grandmother let me have it, and that's when my love for artful renderings of plants began. I may never see a 'jack in the pulpit' in real life, but now I can see it much clearer, thanks to your beautiful photos! :)
ReplyDeleteThats cool.I had remembered you mentioning them and the water level.And was gonna ask if you had checked on them.And here they are! Mindsync!PS. I had found some on the tornado trek and stuck a pic at the end of that blog for ya!
ReplyDeleteI think we call them "Lords and Ladies" Kelly.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots.
I finally took a walk in the woods last weekend, and our Jack in the Pulpits were not obvious yet. We usually get some really nice ones, and some of them do have the red striping.
ReplyDeleteOur Trilliums had buds and were close to opening, but it has been raining ever since. Finally today, the sun is shining, at least for the moment.
I am enjoying your series on wildflowers.
Glad to know they're okay. Hope the rain stops soon!
ReplyDeleteJack-in-the-pulpit has been a favorite wildflower of mine since I was a young girl. A friend's mother had a wildflower garden and this was the plant she loved most. Your photos are gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteHi Kelly....One of my favorite spring plants except ours are a maroon color inside!
ReplyDeleteWonderful with the droplets of water!!
I love the names of the wildflowers you're sharing with us, too. I've heard of Jack-in-the-Pulpit, but I've never seen pictures before. So pretty!
ReplyDeleteLovely images, Kelly. Wonderful shades of green!
ReplyDeleteFabulous picture of the Jack-in-the-pulpits, Kelly... That is such an interesting flower --not only to look at, but to photograph.
ReplyDeleteLet's pray for all who lost so much due to the Tornadoes on Wednesday. We were some of the lucky ones.
Hugs,
Betsy
...thanks, everyone. I really am enjoying finding and photographing these wildflowers...there's so much to learn!
ReplyDeleteKelly,
ReplyDeleteYour wildflower pictures are so *A *W *E *S *O *M *E*. makes me wanna get into our woods, we live in the middle of the woods but we have more trees then what I want, we've taken down some in front of the house so we can get sun and a larger yard for our 11 grandkids to play in. I'm from Indiana. Thanks for showing one of my granddaughters had a field trip and was shown these plants so she had me search them and I found your site. Thanks again for the beautiful photo shots.
loveNANA323(Brenda)
...thank you, Brenda!! It's always exciting to find new plants. I'm happy you were able to find the post for your granddaughter. :-)
ReplyDelete