Tag Archives: member of the Lily family

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I found the first Slinkpod, Scoliopus bigelovii, blooming on a sunny spot on the forest floor a few days before Christmas.

This diminutive member of the Lily family is our earliest blooming wildflower. It stands only about an inch and a half high. See the emerging leaves cupping the stem? There are two leaves, and by the time they are full grown, they can be six to twelve inches long with mottled spots!

If you have never found this wildflower, look for these mottled leaves in the spring. They will tell you where these exquisite little flowers come up. You should start looking around Christmas.

We had another rip roaring storm last night. 2.23 inches in Rick's and my rain gauge. Season to date is 38.97 inches. 50 inches is a normal wet winter here. Boy, are we well on our way! Now we have some days to dry out.

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On Christmas day, Mel Smith spotted and photographed perhaps the first appearing Slink Pod, Scoliopus bigelovii.

This wildflower is a member of the Lily family. Its distinctive leaves are just barely showing. But they will grow in the weeks ahead. They are mottled, so if you see them in the spring, long after these exquisite flowers, then remember where they are so you can look for them next winter. Here's a photo of the leaves, taken by Craig Tooley a few years ago.

Thanks to Mel and Craig for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Clouds are pouring in and the surface water of the ocean is  now flowing northward - all signs that a storm is on the way!