Spring unfolds more slowly in northern Vermont than it does where I live in the mid-Atlantic. So we were able to catch some late spring action in the Stowe area recently. The show started in the gardens at Trapp Family Lodge, where an Eastern Chipmunk foraged among the Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) and Wild Bleeding Heart (Dicentra eximia),
Eastern Chipmunk with Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) and Wild Bleeding Heart (Dicentra eximia)
while a Groundhog family watched nearby.
Groundhog family in the garden at Trapps
The woods at Trapps and the other natural areas we visited were lush with ferns, with a bounty of other diverse plants peaking through them.
The woods from Fox Track trail at the Trapp Family Lodge
Narrow Beech Fern (Phegopteris hexagonoptera) with Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) and Hooked Crowfoot (Ranuunculus recurvatus)
Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis) at Wiessner Woods
Pink Lady’s Slippers (Cypripedium acaule) shyly raised their heads for our viewing pleasure.
Pink Lady’s Slipper (Cypripedium acaule)
Pink Lady’s Slipper (Cypripedium acaule)
Goldthread (Coptis trifolia) had finished blooming, and was setting fruit.
Goldthread (Coptis trifolia) with Canada Mayflower (Maianthemum canadense) leaves
Canada Mayflower (Maianthemum canadense) shown in the sun’s spotlight,
Canada Mayflower (Maianthemum canadense)
while the delicate blossoms of False Solomon’s Seal (Maianthemum racemosum) lit the trails.
False Solomon’s Seal (Maianthemum racemosum)
A White-tailed Deer was unfazed by our visit to her domain.
White-tailed Deer
Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) was in various stages of its bloom cycle in different locations. We often found it close to water.
Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)
In the woods, most of the potential pollinators were flies of various species. In the photo below, the fly on the Foamflower is harvesting pollen, a food source for some fly species.
Fly harvesting pollen from Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)
Bluebead Lily (Clintonia borealis) was just beginning to bloom, often visited by the fly shown here.
Bluebead Lily (Clintonia borealis)
Bluebead Lily (Clintonia borealis) with flower visitor
A Robber Fly, better know for its diet of other insects than for drinking nectar, visited Dwarf Ginseng (Panax trifolius) flowers.
Dwarf Ginseng (Panax trifolius) with Robber Fly
Dwarf Ginseng was popular with another fly visitor who unknowingly gathered pollen on its hairy body for possible dispersal to other flowers.
Dwarf Ginseng (Panax trifolius) with potential pollinator
Near Stevenson Brook in Little River State Park,
Stevenson Brook at Little River State Park
Virginia Waterleaf (Hydrophylum virginianum) bloomed a deep violet, pictured here with a flower visitor coming in for a landing.
Virginia Waterleaf (Hydrophylum virginianum)
Southern Pygmy Clubtail dragonflies rested on a fern at Sterling Falls Gorge.
Southern Pygmy Clubtail dragonflies
Sterling Falls Gorge
Bluets (Houstonia caerulea) brightened a meadow at Trapps, the yellow nectar guides at their throats attracting a variety of visitors, incuding Bumble Bees, Eight-spotted Forester moths, Bee Flies and a Mustard White butterfly.
Bluets (Houstonia caerulea)
Bluets (Houstonia caerulea) with Bumble Bee
Bluets (Houstonia caerulea) with Bee Fly (Bombylius major)
Bluets (Houstonia caerulea) with Mustard White butterfly
The Mustard White was a new butterfly for me. Its numbers have diminished in recent years because of habitat loss, and possibly also due to the increase of the invasive Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata). Mustard White caterpillars rely for food on our native mustards, such as Toothwort (Cardamine diphylla) and Cut-leaved Toothwort (Cardamine concatenata). Toothwort is present along the trails near the clearing where we saw the Mustard White, and Garlic Mustard was nowhere to be seen.
Back in the woods, two crane flies mated, doing their part to ensure that the show will continue.
Crane Flies mating
The Natural Web 