Taking a bow
Trillium erectum, aka Wake Robin, Stinking Benjamin or simply Red Trillium, is a unique spring ephemeral that prefers moist, deciduous woodlands. Be advised never to sniff this one, as its odor is fetid and is pollinated by carrion flies. However, its rich, crimson petal color is a beauty to behold and really stands out in the forest. It forms a berry which is toxic to humans, but eaten by birds and other wildlife.
Shelley M. White -Author: Cannabis for Lyme disease // Clinical Herbalist: Lyme disease and co-infections // Yoga Instructor // Nutritionist
"Consider the birds of the air...."
nature + landscape photography / 123 degrees west, 45 degrees north
Where observation and imagination meet nature in poetry.
Bring Nature Into Life
Be Original!
Enjoying Scotland's Wildlife
Capturing the beauty of God's creation through the lens of a camera
An Artist's View
Lives and writes at the foot of Pikes Peak
Photographs taken with a bridge camera journaling nature and everyday life in Central Massachusetts and beyond.
storyteller with a camera
Gardening, making and exploring. Canberra, Australia.
The daily life of an addict in recovery
keeping an eye on nature
One tale, woven in a thousand
diary of a locked down American in Italy.
Exploring sustainable options, minimalism, and gardening.
Notes from a wildlife-friendly cottage garden
Eliza Waters 
Wow, these are gorgeous. I’ve only ever seen the white ones in the woods.
Thank you, Lisa. In the woods around all we see is red. Conversely, we rarely see the white ones unless they are planted from a nursery. I have a rare yellow one I bought and put in my shade bed, but it is not as robust as these wild ones. I admire the mottled foliage of the ones found further south and into the midwest.
I have never seen red trilliums either. Lovely photos. The white trillium is the official flower of Ontario!
The white is such a pure white, a lovely flower. Good for an official flower! Thanks, Belinda.
Such lovely light in the woods … Was it sunny? I’m asking because the sun hasn’t come out in pa for nearly a week. I miss it 🌞
This was Saturday, which was sunny and quite a beautiful spring day – the clouds didn’t come in until sundown. It’s been drizzly ever since. Hope we get a little sun soon – I get antsy after 3 gray days in a row!
I especially like that 2nd shot, with the veins of the flower & leaves, and flecks of pollen.
Thank you, Micheal. And the curly pistil awaiting that pollen. Definitely one of my favorite spring flowers.
Lovely.
Thank you, Gigi. Nature always amazes.
I’ll look out for one
Good luck!
Beautiful shots Eliza. I was working near the river yesterday and saw my first ones of the season. Hope you get some sunshine today!
Thank you, Catherine. I guess we here in the northeast are lucky to have these beauties, the feedback is that most have never seen one. But I don’t ever see the white, which are more widespread.
No sun today, just drizzle, which, of course, the plants love!
Love! I may order some of these from Prairie Nursery next year (you are feeding my addiction!) … this year was all about Virginia Bluebells.
A great addiction if you must have one, IMO!
I’ve never seen a red one– beautiful!
Thank you, Julie. It is a beauty for sure.
What a beautiful flower. I saw them in Kentucky when we visited there last year. I don’t think I had ever seen them before that. Beautiful shots, Eliza.
Thank you, Mary. That red is so striking and the three petals make it unusual among flowers.
It’s a lovely looking flower, I have never seen one.
While common here, apparently from the feedback I am getting, are largely located in the northeast US. More’s the pity.
In central Maine, we mostly have the red ones, but they are not in bloom yet. And you are so right. Lovely to behold, not so lovely to smell. “Putrid” is the word that immediately comes to mind.
Good adjective! 🙂
I am going out to do some morel hunting today – I will keep an eye out for this (but not my nose!).
Oh, that’s right, you have access to those lovelies. Do you freeze any?
I did last year. This year, I think I may try drying. We went out yesterday, and I think they need a few more days to mature.
Oh, lovely. One of my favourite spring flowers and so fragile. There is a spot in a park in Toronto where you could find them and we would try to visit every year. I don’t think these grow in the Montreal area or at least I haven’t found it yet if they do…(Suzanne)
I forgot to mention that it was mostly the white one that was growing in Toronto with a few red ones…
I guess they mostly grow in the northeast.
Thank you, Suzanne. They like a soil that is about 6.8 pH, which would be deciduous (maple, ash, beech, cherry) woodlands. Pine, oak woods would be too acidic. You might seek out those areas favorable for their growth.
what a beauty!!!!! I love read in the garden:-)
Thank you, Robbie!
red, my keyboard was sticking..but wanted to let you know …spring is here!!!!
Well, I love red in garden as well as to read in it – so the typo works! 😉 Yay, spring! I bet your garden is bursting. 🙂
right on sister!
🙂
lol:-)
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! I want to hug it (despite your warning about the fetid smell! 🙂 )
Being naturally curious, I smelled one once. 🙂 I fairly snorted and trust me, won’t do that ever again! Beauty best loved from afar. 🙂
Beautifully dangerous!
The scarlet woman! ;-D
Wow!!! I don’t have this one, and I have never seen one either. I’m glad I don’t because I have too many critters running around. ❤
I don’t think it is toxic to animals, and humans did use it medicinally, but in a ‘hair of the dog’ way. It is lovely to see in the forest.
not sure that I have come across a Trillium before, but will be on my guard if I do now! The flower is a super colour.
Thank you, Ann. I love its deep red – so rich.
Just gorgeous. I planted some in the front garden in the autumn, but a few weeks later there were just holes where they had been. 😦 , so I am living vicariously through you
Oh, darn critters! They do like the tubers, so sorry you lost yours. Still, glad to provide some solace. 🙂
So pretty, all these spring blooms…the leaves look similar to Jack-in-the Pulpit.
Yes, they do. When they are seedlings, I have trouble telling them apart.
Ok, if I ever see it, I’ll admire it but won’t smell it! Deal!
🙂 Good idea!
I have always wanted to discover one of these in the woods! I will still probably smell it 😉
😀 Ha, go for it! Try anything once, right?
I have never seen the red ones. Delightful
Thank you. They are quite stunning.
Beautiful … to paraphrase – never judge a flower by its colour! 😀
Truly awesome photography. A great gift you have for sure.
Tim
A very elegant Trillium, I have one that is on my blog, and the scent is sweet. Does if vary between varieties?
Such pretty flowers and I love your caption, Eliza.
Thank you very much, Jane. 🙂
What pretty flowers! Lovely shots.
Thank you, Fi!
I love the flowers and leaves of this plant Eliza, great shots. Unfortunately I accidentally trashed your comment on my post – so here is my reply Thank You Eliza!
Ha, that happens. Thanks for your visit here, Karen!
I’ve always admired these flowers but, never having seen one up close and personal, I didn’t know they stank! Thanks for the warning!
That they do. Thanks for your visit, Kris!
What an amazing slower, it even looks prehistoric.
Yes, it is unusual, both in form and color. Thanks, Maria, have a great weekend.
What a beautiful flower.
Thank you, Pauline.
That’s an interesting little flower, very pretty but quite an unusual shape. It makes me think of some other flower dressed up as an orchid. 🙂
It is unusual with only 3 petals. It isn’t related to orchids, however, but to lilies. The scarlet woman of the family. 🙂
I see. Pretty little thing, isn’t it? 🙂
Quiet beauty draws me in every time.
Beautiful portraits of these lovely wildflowers!!!
Thank you, Denise, much appreciated!