Mayapple Two deeply divided Pause at the numbered markers listed be- umbrellas-like leaves hide the low and seek out the flowers usually seen white, waxy flower of 6-9 petals, WILDFLOWERS near each location. But don’t overlook oth- which grows from their crotch. An ers that may not be listed here. Check the edible green fruit will appear first in detailed listing of the individual flower for ID information and blooming times. OF BLUHM Sweet Cicely A tall, leafy plant #1 Stop as you enter the Woods in early with small umbels of white flowers. spring to look for Common blue Violets, Its root and leaves are aromatic, early blooming Toothwort, Spring Beauty, smelling like anise. In fall its small Prairie Trillium and other favorites. blackish seed pods cling to cloth- WOODS ing. #2 Rest on the bench while you look for Bluhm woods is a special place that is a very early blooming Bloodroot, Spicebush beautiful, unspoiled example of Indi- and nearby Trout Lilies. Waterleaf Large deeply cut spotted ana’s mature beech-maple forest. Pock- leaves appear early in the spring, ets of transitory wetlands and understory #3 It’s worth a detour behind the bench to but produce lavender blossoms on a seek the patch of delicate Hepatica, both separate stalk later in May or June. species of shrubs lend variety and habitat The three separate species may be White and Yellow Trout Lilies, and later, identified best by referral to a for frogs, toads, butterflies and a great an upclose view of the showpiece flower, guide. variety of birds. Both year-round resi- Trillium Grandiflorum (Great White Tril- dents and migrants who require undis- lium). turbed nesting habitat are attracted to Special thanks to Phyliss Benn, Marion Schoonaert and these woods. #4 As you return to the paved path, watch Mary Jo Pflum for the compilation of this brochure. for Dutchman’s Breeches and Squirrel Wildflower sketches furnished by the USDA. Corn, more species of Violets, and the tiny Stroll at your leisure and enjoy the sights Harbinger of Spring...Watch, too, for clus- LaPorte and sounds of solitude at any time of the ters of Anemone and more Trilliums. year. Thanks to the generosity of the late County Gayle and Lucille Bluhm, whose contri- #5 Be alert for more surprises along the butions have added so much to the La- path: early leaves of Wild Leek, look on Potawatomi Audubon Society Parks Porte County Parks systems. the west side for the shy Nodding Trillium and farther along some Wild Ginger. Re-

LaPorte turn in June to see the Leek in bloom. Administrative Office PO Box 1632 0185 South Holmesville Road County Parks LaPorte, IN 46352 LaPorte, IN 46350 #6 By the end of April, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, (219) 325-8315 DepartmentVisit Bluhm Woods at Wild Phlox, and Wild Geranium, and May

Phone: 219-324-0649 3855 County Road 1100 West Apples will be in bloom. Perhaps you will Email: [email protected] Luhr County Park be lucky enough to see Baneberry and www.alco.org/Audubon Nature Center (219) 324-5855 Sweet Cecily in the woods. Return later to www.laportecountyparks.org see Waterleaf in blossom. Harbinger of Spring Tiniest and False Rue Anemone Delicate 5- Jack-in-the-Pulpit the name Trillium family. All trilliums have leaves in a earliest of Bluhm Woods flowers, petaled white blossom; leaflets in refers to the flower’s central single whorl of three and a large, solitary it’s less than 10” tall. White petals 3’s and deeply lobed. Early flower- spike, resembling a preacher flower. and red-brown anthers gave it the ing and long-lasting.. Common in standing in an old-fashioned nickname of “Salt and Pepper”. woods. church pulpit protected by a Look along the path edges-March to green or purplish brown spathe mid-April. Prairie Trillium Maroon, stalk curving over him. Three lobed less flowers with erect petals, leaves rise 2-3 feet on a separate Trout Lilies Bluhm Woods hosts drooping sepals. March and April. stem. Late April. Bloodroot Among the first to both the western White and more bloom in late March or early April. easterly Yellow species of Trout Its 8 to 10 petaled, pure white blos- Lilies. Oval leaves and nodding soms are protected by tightly curled single flower. They require 7 years Wild Ginger Look for a blos- leaves, which open only after flow- to develop a bloom. April som beneath the large, heart- ering. Great White Trillium Large white shaped leaves with hairy stalks. flowers turning pink as they fade. Nestled at ground level where 2 Violets Because the violet family is Look for spectacular displays in leaves converge, the 3-pointed Hepatica Petal-like sepals may large and blooms at different times, clumps in late April and early May. red-brown calyx is difficult to vary from white to pink, blue and a simple description is difficult. All find and see. Late April. lavender and in number from 6 to have 5 petals. Lower petals veined, 10 on this early blossom. Fuzzy side petals often bearded, lower stems and leaves shield the bud petal with spur or sac. Violets seen until it blossoms. A sister species at Bluhm as the season progresses: has lobed, rather than pointed, Early blooming Nodding Trillium Long flower Wild Geranium Five rose- leaves. March to mid-April ∗ Common Blue Widespread stalk bends downward, so white colored petals on branched stalk flower nods beneath the leaves. of irregularly and deeply cleft ∗ Smooth Yellow Late April in moist woods. leaves. Common in woods. April ∗ Arrow-leaved Note leaf shape to May. Spring Beauty Pink or white pet- Late April, May als with darker veins pair of smooth ∗ Canada Lavender under petals linear leaves on stem. Less than ∗ Downy yellow Bearded center 12” tall, but spectacular in large ∗ Pale Branched leaves, white patches. April flower Dutchman’s Breeches Delicate True Solomon’s Seal This area spray of white, waxy, yellow-tipped is home to four species of Solo- Wild Leek 2 or 3 broad, smooth flowers drooping in a spray from an mon Seal. The true seal has a Spice Bush Clusters of tiny bright onion-scented leaves disappear be- arched stem. Flower has 2 inflated series of paired yellow flowers yellow flowers appear before the fore an umbel of white blossoms spurs that hang like pantaloons up- suspended below its stem. leaves of this shrub that grows up to rises in late June or July. The entire side down. Foliage is dissected in a 15 feet. Twigs are fragrant when plant and bulb are edible. fernlike manner. Mid-April bruised. March to mid-April. White Baneberry Because its shiny white fruits resemble the Blue Phlox Five pale blue or violet Squirrel Corn Like Dutchman’s china eyes once used in dolls, this Cut-leaved Toothwort Low- petals radiate from the tip of a growing white flower cluster with Breeches, but flowers more heart- plant is easy to ID in the fall. In sticky stem with sparse, opposite shaped and fragrant. Root resem- May, tiny white flowers form a deeply cut-paired leaves, divided leaves. Late April to May. into 3 leaflets. Blooms through bles yellow corn. Blooms some- dense cluster on the tall stalk with April. what later. sharply toothed leaflets .