Our Mission: The Mattabeseck Audubon Society, a chapter of the National Audubon Society, is committed to environmental leadership and education for the benefit of the community and the earth's biodiversity.

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Wildflowers at Giuffrida Park, Meriden

A Walk in the Park
A mid-April 2000 hike turned up a profusion of wildflowers in bloom. Additional species were found in subsequent years, although never again so many species in bloom at one time as in 2000. Here are a few of the highlights seen.
Round-Leaved Hepatica Early Saxifrage Dutchman's Britches
Round-lobed Hepatica (Hepatica americana), a member of the Buttercup family, thrives in hard ground. It's seen at Giufridda park in shades of blue, pink, and white. Early Saxifrage (Saxifraga virginiensis) peeks up from under a lichen-covered rock. It's family is Saxifrage. Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) is abundant on the steep slopes of broken talus rock. You can see by its "pantaloons on a clothesline" flowers that it is a cousin to domestic Bleeding Heart, both are Poppy family members.
Bloodroot in flower Bluettes Rattlesnake Plantain

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) displays its large delicate flowers. It also is a Poppy family member.

 Bluets (Houstonia caerulea), every child's favorite flower, welcome Spring. They're members of the Bedstraw family. Rattlesnake Plantain (Goodyera sp.), an Orchid family member, although not in bloom, displays lovely blue-green checkered leaves.
Pussytoes Rue Anemone Spicebush
Pussytoes (Antennaria neglecta) are well-named fuzzy spring flowers. They are member s of the Daisy family. Rue Anemone (Anemonella thalictroides), another member of the Buttercup family, shows its delicate white face among dried leaves.   Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) is in bloom in wet areas. Early colonists used its red fall berries in place of Allspice. Leaves and twigs are unmistakeably citronella scented.
Trout Lily Red Trillium Northern Water Thrushes have been present near the stream for nearly all years of field trips.
Trout Lily, also called Adder's Tongue, or Dogtooth Violet, (Erythronium americanum), a Lily family member, blankets wet woods floors. Trillium (Trillium sp.), shown here in bud, is another member of the Lily family often found near woodland streams.
  Ramps Downey Violet  
  What are these lily-like leaves? Not a flower to be seen. That's because these are Ramps -- wild leeks. You can tell if you get close enough to smell them. The taller pleated leaves are Hellebore -- not to be eaten. Downy Violets have fuzzy leaves that are more elongated than common violets. The flowers are very similar.
  Wood Anemone Mourning Cloak Butterfly
  Wood Anemone has 5 petaled white flowers and deep reddish-green leaves. One of the first butterflies of late winter to early spring is the Mourning Cloak. Body and wings are velvety, very deep red to black. Wings are trimmed with a ruffled band of gold.
  Pale Corydalis and Columbine  
  Red Columbine and Pale Corydalis bloom together on top of the trap rock ridge. In some patches these were joined by the more rare Yellow Corydalis, which grows locally only on trap rock ridge-tops.  

 

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