Golden Eyes

by Cindy ~ April 25, 2007

I took a quick trip with Garry down to check on the steelhead run in the Rifle River, hoping to see that the Marsh Marigolds had opened. They have- despite being a bit frosted last night, the ditches are teeming with these beautiful flowers.

Caltha palustris commonly known as Kingcup or Marsh Marigold is a member of the family Ranunculaceae, and is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, growing in wet, boggy places. This common plant is also occasionally known as may blobs, or cowslip. The common name of marigold refers to its use in Churches in medieval times at Easter time as a tribute to the Virgin Mary, as in Mary gold. In parts of the UK in the 19th century, the plant was called Mayblob, possibly derived from Mereblob or more likely from Marybud. The specific name palustris, from Latin “of a marsh”, indicates its common habitat.
As is the case with many members of the Ranunculaceae, all parts of the plant can be irritant or poisonous. Skin rashes and dermatitis have been reported from excessive handling of the plant. I never handle wildflowers, even to move debris away for a ‘cleaner’ shot- because usually that would mean I would have to disturb other flora to do so. This is where my 300 prime lens comes in handy, it’s my most used lens for floral shots, as I like the BG bokeh I get in certain light conditions. There isn’t much light today, but overcast days are great for floral photography- the colors are much more saturated, especially hard to expose colors like yellows and whites, which are easy to blow out.

I’m pretty sure we have Round-lobed Hepaticas out on our property, but my attempts to walk through the woods yesterday didn’t go well, as I stumbled over limbs and deadfall. We have large White Trillium about to bloom and our Cranebill Geraniums and Forget-me-nots are starting to leaf out. Soon I’ll be heading north to Maltby Hills where Garry can search for morel mushrooms and I can sit near Dutchmans’ Breeches and the largest colony of Trout Lilies I’ve ever seen- it stretches on for at least 5 miles. Together with the etheral songs of Wood and Hermit Thrush echoing over the hills and ravines, I’ll be in heaven. I also viewed our first spring azure butterflies today, tiny bright splashes of blue that flitted among the understory.. they never land for long, but just a short glimpse of the pastel color on their upper wings was enough to make my own eye open wider.. my vision may be compromised, but I still have enough to make out colors and shapes well.

Now to try and get out to search for those hepaticas again- I’m too determined to do any less because we usually go right from spring to summer and the wildflowers of Michigans’ forests are way too precious and beautiful to miss… and once our trees leaf out, shading the ground below, they’ll be just a fond memory.

Footnote: I found the hepaticas, right where I knew they’d be. There are several small bunches in blossom; pinks/whites and lavendars. I was able to get a few quick photos before I had to call it quits. I then plopped down on the leaves, enjoying the fresh breeze and a pair of Northern Flickers displaying. I listened to the call of one of the Common Loons on the lake, the drumming of a Ruffed Grouse and tilted my head towards the sky where I watched a small kettle of Turkey Vultures soaring above, before I was able to get my legs to move again. Life is good. Better than good.