As we move from spring into summer, I want to share two recent paintings. These depict two of our early spring wildflowers.

The Yellow Trout Lily grows in the forest before leaves on bushes and trees appear. It’s a delicate little plant that likes to grow near ramps, or wild leeks, and blue cohosh and yellow bellflower. The spring ground around here is covered by the leaves of this flower, from which it gets the name “trout” since they’re speckled like trough bellies. The yellow flowers are much less common and you have to look hard to find them.

This next flower needs little introduction since it’s our provincial wildflower. This is the White Trillium. However, this one is quite unique. I call the painting Quadrillium, because this flower didn’t seem to know it was supposed to have only three petals. I’ve never seen a four-petaled one before or after this one since they’re pretty rare. Most trilliums here are starting their pink blushing as they fade towards summer.

These two paintings are small (8×10 and 9×12) which suits the small spring flowers. Enjoy the rest of spring as we move towards summer!