April Flowers in Big Hollow

After a cold, wet month, the last few days of April have been more seasonal and the first few wildflowers are starting to bloom in Big Hollow. Most of the prairie plants are summer and fall bloomers, but in the surrounding woods the spring wildflowers are appearing. One of the few spring-flowering native plants that lives in open parts of the prairie is pussytoes - Antennaria neglecta. These in the top photo aren't quite blooming, but they're close. Nearby in the woods the Roundleaf Ragwort - Senecio obovatus - are in the same condition. They'll all be blooming next week. Along Big Hollow Road I found these Bloodroot - Sanguinaria canadensis - in peak bloom (middle photo). Hidden among the Bloodroot was a Round-lobed Hepatica (last photo) that is almost finished with its short flowering season for this year.