Spring Wildflowers

Currently Blooming in Snug Harbor:

(these photos were all taken in Snug Harbor by the author on Saturday, June 18th)

Canada Dogwood/Bunchberry



The fastest moving plant in the world (its flowers open at record speed) and one of the most photographed species on the island, bunchberry is currently in full showing in the Snug.

Mountain Bluet

An introduced species to the island (and one known by about a thousand different common names) but still one of its coolest looking. Here, outside the auditorium, one is pollinated - and the species continues to spread.

Northern Paintbrush

This pale-yellow-white version of Indian paintbrush is the only one found on the island, although its scarlet relative grows in the U.P.

Forget-Me-Not

These tiny flowers have yellow centers, their petals either pale blue, lavender, or white. They're European originally, but they've been here for a very long time.

Wild Rose

Wild roses are another flower that come in a variety of colors. They're just starting to bloom in Snug Harbor now; most of the bushes still hold only tightly-curled buds.

Red Baneberry


These spherical umbels of flowers (and how cool is the word umbel?) resemble those of sarsaparilla, but the bright-green, fatter, slightly-jagged compound leaves clearly differentiate it.








Fringed Polygala/Gaywings



These tiny purple flowers grow in massive crowds along the trails, looking very much like they are dressed up for a gala in their tassled party hats. This is probably the flower we get questioned on the most in the visitor center.



















Violet



Somehow, this perfectly ordinary garden flower takes on something extraordinary when you see it crouched, all purple and deep blue, on the side of an island trail.



















Blue-Bead Lily




The blue-bead lily hasn't yet gained its namesake, the poisonous berries, but currently holds wide-open pale yellow flowers (here being enjoyed by a swallowtail butterfly.)








Hawkweed


There isn't a LOT of hawkweed in Snug Harbor, but its bright oranges and reds makes it instantly noticeable.















Wild Strawberry




The deliiiicious berries are a little ways off yet, but the tiny five-parted white flowers of the wild strawberry, along with the jagged leaves in groups of three, are all over Snug Harbor.

Buttercup

Many apologies...I originally identified this as "marsh marigold" - shows how well I know my wildflowers. Sheesh. Let's give this another try: The shiny, brilliantly yellow BUTTERCUP flowers on their towering slender stalks are along every trail out of the harbor. No wonder they aren't in marshes, eh?

Dandelion

Let us not forget the lowly dandelion, a common splash of brilliant color in Snug Harbor (though by now, a great many of them have already become puffy clouds of seed.)