Magical Mayapples

The Mayapples at Ashland are blooming! This is very exciting because the flowers that bloom on these "umbrella plants" actually bloom underneath the umbrella, making them hard to see.

See how well they hide? And they are so pretty!

When I was little I used to look into the Mayapple stands and wish I were a little mouse. Then I could run around in a cozy Mayapple forest!

Mayapples are an important part of a Eastern Box Turtle's diet. In fact, the Box Turtle plays a huge role in spreading Mayapples. It eats the fruits (or 'apples') and poops out the seeds. Other animals consume the seeds, or avoid the plant altogether because of its toxins.

And here are a few more pictures from last week's White Clay Creek State Park excursion. Enjoy!