Spring Flowers Part III

Continuing with Part III of common spring wildflowers inhabiting the Captina Creek watershed.  Cool damp conditions are slowing progression of herbaceous plants on the forest floor.  The overstory canopy is beginning to fill in, but is being slowed as well by the weather conditions.

Blue phlox favors roadsides cutting through forests and
exposed sunny banks.  Color ranges from deep purple
to bluish white.  Often found growing with trilliums,
wild geraniums and larkspur.

Dutchmens breeches.  Favors deep rich soils on shady
wooded hillsides.  Can sometimes carpet an entire slope
if conditions are favorable.

A mix of wild geraniums (light purple) and larkspur (dark purple).
Unlike dutchmens breeches, these wildflowers prefer sunny
south-facing wooded slopes with sometimes shallow soils.
Of the two, wild geraniums seem to be more prevalent
around the watershed - possibly a testament to their
adaptability.  

Wild mint prior to flowering.  Prefers shady wooded slopes
with rich moist soils.  Leaves have a very aromatic scent.
Flowers are small and white and clustered near the base of
leaves.   

Virginia bluebells, another inhabitant of rich moist wooded
slopes.  Tends to grow in clusters of several dozen plants
per patch.  Also, has large fleshy leaves for an early spring
flower with smooth margins

Common wood sorrel.  A small flowering plant that is easily
overlooked.  Grows on wooded banks above streams and in
other moist areas.