Lickety-split Botanizers

Here I am in my tick-revealing garb

During any given growing season, any of these opportunities arise to view blooming wildflowers:

  • first bloom(s) of the season,
  • ephemeral spring wildflowers in April/May,
  • Early Azalea (Rhododendron prinophyllum) and its alluring fragrance in late May,
  • Canada Lily (Lilium canadense) in its variety of floral arrangements (i.e., single/double bloom, candelabra, and chandelier) in July, or
  • upland orchids (e.g., Pink Lady’s-slipper (Cypripedium acaule) in May, Late Coralroot (Corallorhiza odontorhiza) in late summer or early autumn).

While I routinely schedule wildflower walks every year to incorporate at least some of those opportunities, the actual timing of blooming sequences doesn’t always work out as planned.  Moreover, during my own personal hikes, whether at a location new to me or at one I’ve frequently visited, I occasionally come across a species that is either new to me or the first time I’ve observed it at a particular location.

For these reasons, I want to invite you to join me for an impromptu wildflower walk whenever the opportunity may present itself.

Here is how it will work.  Simply send me an email message (david.behm.curiousbynature@gmail.com) to acknowledge your interest in becoming a Lickety-split Botanizer.  Then, whenever I discover a worthy wildflower blooming opportunity, I’ll send you an email alert indicating the time and place where I’ll be to lead a wildflower walk to view the targeted species.  I have no idea how many of these opportunities will occur in any given growing season.  These walks will be offered exclusively to members of Lickety-split Botanizers.  I anticipate that such alerts may be same-day and likely never more than 24 hours in advance of an impromptu walk; any particular impromptu walk could occur on any day of the week. Membership and participation are FREE.

As the photo above clearly exhibits, you need not be a fashionista to be a Lickety-split Botanizer! However, lightly-colored clothing and sensible footwear are always a good idea.

If you didn’t go, this is what you missed:

  • #1-2023 (3/28/2023) = American Hazelnut (Corylus americana) and Hairy Bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta) in bloom plus ID tips for a variety of trees/shrubs
  • #2-2023 (4/16/2023) = Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) and several ephemeral spring wildflowers in bloom
  • #3-2023 (4/28/2023) = In bloom: Common Blue Violet (Viola sororia), Confederate Violet (Viola sororia -f- priceana), Dog Violet (Viola labradorica), Dwarf Ginseng (Panax trifolius), Dwarf Raspberry (Rubus pubescens), Fringed Polygala (Polygaloides paucifolia), Goldthread (Coptis trifolia), Marsh Blue Violet (Viola cucullata), Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris), Northern White Violet (Viola pallens), Pennsylvania Bitter Cress (Cardamine pensylvanica), Round-lobed Hepatica (Hepatica americana), Small-flowered Crowfoot (Ranunculus abortivus), Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum), Wake Robin (Trillium erectum), and Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia); and sampled fresh taste of fiddleheads of Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris).
  • #4-2023 (5/18/2023) = In bloom: Early Azalea (Rhododendron prinophyllum), Painted Trillium (Trillium undulatum), Starflower (Lysimachia borealis), Canada Mayflower (Maianthemum canadense), Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum), Black Raspberry (Rubus occidentalis), Morrow’s Honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii), Bell’s Honeysuckle (Lonicera xbella), Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), Wild Sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis), Bulbous Buttercup (Ranunculus bulbosus), Thyme-leaved Speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolia), Thyme-leaved Sandwort (Arenaria serpyllifolia), Mouse-ear Chickweed (Cerastium fontanum ssp. vulgare), Corn Speedwell (Veronica arvensis), Tower-mustard (Turritis glabra), Common Winter Cress (Barbarea vulgaris), Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata), and Celandine (Chelidonium majus).
  • #5-2023 (6/10/2023) = In bloom:  Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), Black Medick (Medicago lupulina), Catchweed Bedstraw (Galium aparine), Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), Clustered Snakeroot (Sanicula odorata), Mouse-ear Chickweed (Cerastium fontanum ssp. vulgare), Redbud (Cercis canadensis var. canadensis), Spring Avens (Geum vernum), Corn Speedwell (Veronica arvensis), Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum), Dame’s Rocket (Hesperis matronalis), Morrow’s Honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii), Sweet Cicely (Osmorhiza claytonii), Thyme-leaved Speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolia), Autumn-olive (Elaeagnus umbellata), Black Raspberry (Rubus occidentalis), Bulbous Buttercup (Ranunculus bulbosus), False Solomon’s-seal (Maianthemum racemosum), Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea), Red Clover (Trifolium pratense), White Clover (Trifolium repens), Yellow Sweet Clover (Melilotus officinalis), Multi-flora Rose (Rosa multiflora), Yellow Wood Sorrel (Oxalis stricta), and Moneywort (Lysimachia nummularia).
  • #1-2024 (4/16/2024) = In bloom: Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), Carolina Spring Beauty (Claytonia caroliniana), Common Blue Violet (Viola sororia), Common Shadbush (AKA Juneberry) (Amelanchier arborea), Long-spurred Violet (Viola rostrata), Plantain-leaved Pussytoes (Antennaria plantaginifolia), Round-lobed Hepatica (Hepatica americana), Smaller Pussytoes (Antennaria howellii ssp. neodioica), and Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum).
  • #2-2024 (5/4/2024) = In bloom: Carolina Spring Beauty (Claytonia caroliniana), Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara), Common Blue Violet (Viola sororia), Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), Common Winter Cress (Barbarea vulgaris), Confederate Violet (Viola sororia -f- priceana), Early Low Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium), Early Meadow Rue (Thalictrum dioicum), English Plaintain (Plantago lanceolata), Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata), Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea), Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii), Long-spurred Violet (Viola rostrata), Lily-of-the-Valley (Convallaria majalis), Lyre-leaved Rock Cress (Arabidopsis lyrata), Marsh Blue Violet (Viola cucullata), Morrow’s Honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii), Mouse-ear Chickweed (Cerastium fontanum ssp. vulgare), Plantain-leaved Pussytoes (Antennaria plantaginifolia), Prickly Gooseberry (Ribes cynosbati), Selkirk’s Violet (Viola selkirkii), Smaller Pussytoes (Antennaria howellii ssp. neodioica), Small-flowered Crowfoot (Ranunculus abortivus), Smooth Rock Cress (Borodinia laevigata), Tall Buttercup (Ranunculus acris), Thyme-leaved Speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolia), Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum), Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum), and Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana).

Don’t miss out on another opportunity for some spur-of-the-moment botanizing – signup today!