Trillium Grandiflora

Large-flowered Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum). This is an early bird. Soon the hillsides will be white with them. Shot on the rail trail between Star City and Point Marion.

Trout Lily

Erythronium americanum. This is the first year that I've been able to "capture" one with a camera. They're supposed to commonly appear in clumps, but I've only found solitary plants on my hunts.

Sweet William

Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata), aka "Sweet William." A card-carrying native to forests in eastern North America.

Squirrel Corn

These were the prominent bloom on the rail trail north of Star City on April 1st. Known as Squirrel Corn (Dicentra canadensis), they look like white Bleeding Hearts.

Chickweed

April 1st bike ride on the bike trail north of Star City. This is a Star Chickweed (Stellaria pubera) growing on the hillside.

It was an eventful 8-mile ride. I saw the following:

• Bloodroots
• Spring Beauties
• Squirrel Corn
• Star Chickweed
• Trout Lilies
• Trilliums
• Blue Phlox

In addition, I got to see a half-dozen or more garter snakes in a group. They must have recently come out of hibernation together. If I'd had my wits about me, I would have taken a video. :-(

Viola

According to Wikipedia, there around 400–500 Viola species distributed around the world. This is one from my back yard.

History Repeats

Tennessee really wants to corner the market on "monkey trials." A piece in the National Center for Science Education says that the Tennessee legislature has passed a new bill that encourages

teachers to present the "scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses" of topics that arouse "debate and disputation" such as "biological evolution, the chemical origins of life, global warming, and human cloning"

The only thing standing it its way now is whether or not Governor Bill Haslam has the backbone to veto this ridiculous legislation.