Trilliums!

Just below our house along our driveway is a rock-house cave with a 15-foot waterfall.  In summer it is hidden and in deep shade.  In spring it is in view and the sunlight dappled hillsides are covered with a carpet of Trilliums.

Trillium grandiflorum or great white trillium, is the most common trillium on the slopes next to our cave.  The flowers are large and brilliant white.  After several days, these trilliums fade to a pale pink.
 

Trillium grandiflorum covering the hillside.



Trillium grandiflorum.

There are two less common species of trillium that I find next to our waterfall.  Trillium erectum, also known as purple trillium, wet-dog trillium or purple wake-robin, has a foul odor that attracts flies and beetles for pollination.  Purple trilliums are not really purple but are maroon or deep red.

Trillium erectus or purple trillium.

The flowers of the purple trillium are on long stalks making them droop.


























An even less common trillium on our woods is Trillium cornuum, also known as nodding trillium.  Its flower is also on a stalk and tends to droop.

Tillium cornuum.

Trilliums have a unique method of seed dispersal.  Seeds are encased in a capsule that bends to the ground as the plant matures.  The capsules splits open dispersing the seeds.  Each seed has a structure called an elaiosome attached to it that attracts ants.  Ants carry the seeds away and consume the nutrient rich elaiosome and discard the seeds. 

Now use the word "elaiosome" in a sentence three times.

April Walk with Dogs

I promised to take a walk with the dogs in my last blog. It was a lovely day and I did more strolling and picture-taking and let the dogs do most of the scrambling.  Here are some photos around our farm from April 23rd in Wild, Wonderful West Virginia.

I found one of our cats, Aztec, lounging under a large tree in the sun. 
Of course he got up to come see me.

Our dog Ace waiting for me to catch up.

Our Spinone Tia who is constantly on the move.

More moving...

Typical Tia.



Our Spinone Trixie.  She has never met a brush pile that didn't capture her attention.







Trixie, always intense out in the field.



Trail to our gas well where we get our free gas.



Our gas well.



On the way home back down the gas-well trail.



View of our back field.

House and garden in the early morning sun.

April Stroll with Goats

April in WV is always a great time to take walks in the woods and open hillsides.  Goats are perfect companions if you want to take a leisurely stroll to look for emerging flowers or morel mushrooms.  Goats are happy to stop and browse, sometimes on that emerging flower you wanted to see, but usually they find fresh green weeds, some briars, or tempting young leaves.  When I feel like a more challenging walk I take my Spinoni who love nothing more than to keep moving, covering every inch of territory, back and forth, hoping to flush a bird or squirrel.  These walks usually involve clambering up and down steep hills. It usually ends up being a cardio workout with a few obstacles thrown in for that extra little challenge.  When we get home the dogs generally resemble this picture.

A picture form April several years ago, with visiting Spinone Missy, my Spinone Tia
and my old boy Moose.  Sadly Moose is no longer able to participate
on long walks due to advancing age.

Walks with goats is more about reflection and relaxation than seeing how far one can push one's body.  I took my herd of seven does out a few days ago and I'll share some pictures from a lovely spring day.


Pausing for a little Multiflora Rose snack.



Tinkerbelle enjoying some fresh grass.

Heidi and my standard LaMancha.  Heidi is a big dog!

Don't worry!  You won't lose me.  I won't let you take a picture without me in it either.

I love the open woods in early spring.

I want to be in the picture too!

Rain nibbling some fresh leaves.  Yum!

Midnight enjoying a snack of Multiflora Rose. 

Our walk is nearly over.  Time to let these pregnant girls rest a while...except for
Starr pictured in front who is currently giving me over a gallon a day of milk .

I hope you enjoyed the walk.  Next time we'll take the dogs and I'll take some pictures of the farm.  Maybe even one of the dogs will still be in the picture.  Oh, and we didn't find any Morels today but there is always tomorrow!