Dutchman’s Breeches
Hager Park
Jenison, MI
Canon EOS 20D, 180mm f/3.5 Macro
ISO 100, F/32 @ 1 sec.
Evaluative +1/3

Wildflower Gallery

As we tumble out of winter and into spring, it is always an exciting time of year. The kids are anxious to get outside and play. The environment is slowly morphing from a drab gray/brown to bright green and the true indicator that spring is here is the arrival of the first spring wildflowers. As recent as a week ago, a walk through the local trails would find only the first traces of green growth, then almost overnight the flowers began to bloom. The local parks and yards are full of the first early arrivals.

This year I was determined to be ready for the explosion of photographic subjects. I had some specific goals in mind, the foremost of which was to capture flowering bloodroot. On my first trip out to Hager Park, I was extremely fortunate and found lots of bloodroot, daffodils(not sure if they count as wildflowers), and trout lily’s. The dutchman’s breeches and spring beauty’s are just starting to form and should be in peak within a week.

While Hager Park is my normal destination, as its just a few hundred yards from the house, I would like to fully explore the offerings of Grand River and Aman Parks. Hopefully this first weekend is a indicator of the coming season.