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Double Bloodroot does Double-Time at Mundy Garden | April 20, 2008 |
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 Sanguinaria canadensis f. multiplex, Sanguinaria canadensis, and Jeffersonia diphylla at Mundy Garden on a sunny April afternoon.Click on each floral image above for a beautiful enlarged version of that photo (opens in a new window.) . |
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 he Muriel B. Mundy Wildflower Garden is a precious gem in our region (http://www.plantations.cornell.edu/collections/botanical/wildflower.cfm). Part of the extensive tracks of Cornell Plantations, this little preserve boasts some of the most diverse collections of wildflowers in our region. I make it an annual pilgrimage to visit the preserve many times to witness the seasonal variations in all its glorious floral splendor. Usually by mid–April, if I haven’t hoofed it to Mundy, I’ve missed some of the herald species of Spring, especially Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), Double Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis forma multiplex), and Twinleaf (Jeffersonia diphylla). Reminiscent of a delicate ‘waterlilly of the land’, Double Bloodroot is an especially elegant harbinger of Spring, and a more rare one at that. Too often I have waited too long to get to the garden, only to find its satiny petals withered at its feet, knowing it will be yet another year for another chance to greet this natural beauty. Though the Bloodroots can emerge between March and May, usually by mid-April in our region, wildflower enthusiasts may miss the peak bloom, like I frequently have. . |
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| I thought I had done it again this year, waiting till nearly mid-April to visit the garden, but to my astonishment, many species had not even emerged from the ground, including the Bloodroots, perhaps because we had more persistent ice storms this year prolonging winter's grip. I know this garden so well that I know where to look for many of the species that annually grace this preserve; I knew where several tracks of Double Bloodroot existed, yet there was no trace of a Spring emergence. Given the warming trend this past week, I made it a priority to visit again the following weekend, just in case, and again, to my astonishment, this multi-petal beauty did double-time emerging into full bloom within the week. Even Twinleaf had not yet burst into bloom, not until the next day! Still, I made it this year! I gently ran my fingers across the multitude of soft petals and was honored to see such a gorgeous showing to verify Spring has taken a firm hold for sure! Aside: The Wildflower Garden has an entrance on its eastern end near the intersection of Caldwell Road and Forest Home Drive, ~100 yards from the Cornell Plantations gift shop and herb garden. If you have time to visit, you won’t be disappointed. For background information about the Bloodroot species: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloodroot. . |
 Sanguinaria canadensis f. multiplex close-up |
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| Note: Click the Bloodroot image on the left to see an enlarged version of
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