April 19th. Raymond Brook Marsh. The only green still just grasses at the water's edge.

 

 

 

I came back later to find the Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia) blossoms had opened.

 

 

 

 

 

Some flowers have a pink tinge.

 

Sweet White Violet (Viola blanda).

 

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)...

 

...with Ants (Family Formicidae).

 

A warm sunny afternoon brought out the Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This turtle survived some trauma.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Later, near Grayville Road. As some blossom fail, other Bloodroot (Sanguinaris canadensis) blossoms open.

 

 

 

 

 

Some Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia) plants have darker olive leaves.

 

Dog Violet (Viola labradorica) I think.

 

Another Violet but I don't know which species (Viola sp.).

 

False Hellebore (Veratrum viride). Parallel venation vastly different from branching veins of Skunk Cabbage.

 

Trout-lily (Erythronium americanum). The mottled leaves are definitive even when the plants aren't blooming.

 

Flowers are alrerady past prime.

 

 

 

Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris) is blooming in boggy areas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flowers seem to darken with age.

 

 

 

 

 

Bluets (Houstonia caerulea).

 

 

 

April 20th. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) out on a limb.

 

 

 

A Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) far across the marsh.

 

 

 

 

 

Later in the morning, a check on the Red Trillium (Trillium erectum) across Smith Street to the west of Cranberry Bog. Stinking Benjamin is another name for it. Dark red color and a scent like rotting meat attracts flies, tricking them into serving as pollinators.

 

Decumbent blossoms got me on hands and knees for these photos.