Bloodroot Wildflower in Bloom, Taylorsville MetroPark, Ohio
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) is an early spring wildflower with snow-white oblong petals and fanning green leaves. It is one of the earliest flowers to push its way up through the cold soil and brown fallen leaves, taking advantage of the sunlight available before the other forbs, shrubs, and trees leaf out. Note the still-dormant sugar maple seedling on the right side of the photo.
In this photo, the leaves are still pointing straight up, but soon they will spread and extend to a more horizontal position. Bloodroot comes up early, flowers and drops its petals quickly. You have to be out there very early in the spring in order to enjoy their ethereal beauty. Nature invites you to get low, down close to the ground, where a world of beauty is quietly and quickly unfolding.
Photo location: Taylorsville MetroPark, Montgomery County, Ohio.
