Had to miss it, didn't I

kw: observations, flowers

Not far south of here, the Mount Cuba Center in northern Delaware has a wildflower celebration each year. Twice in the past five years (since we heard of it) we've been able to go. This year we couldn't, and I'm told it was a stunner. Their most famous type of flower is the Trillium. There are numerous varieties, which are much sought after because they are rather scarce in the wild. Fortunately many varieties are available commercially-grown, even though it takes six to seven years to raise a plant to flowering age.

This specimen is from our yard. The former owner of this house must have planted it many years ago, for now the plant is robust, flowers every year, and has new plants nearby that have begun to flower. We have lived here fourteen years, and I don't recall seeing this plant in flower the first few years, but at that time we had never heard of trilliums.

Most varieties are white or off-white, of differing sizes and narrowness of petal. Some do come in other colors, like the next specimen.

This is someone else's photo. I wish I'd taken one as nice, when I was at Mt. Cuba last year. We typically learn about the date of each year's celebration a week in advance or less, so we too often have plans already.

Let's see; last Sunday in April this year, and a Saturday the last time we went, but also late in April. Guess it'll take blocking out a 2-week window around next year's likely date and hoping for the best.