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Peony
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Sycamore Bark
The American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) is a splendid tree with a curious habit of shedding its bark in huge chunks. The result on a mature tree is often a very smooth surface mottled all over with decorative patterns. These trees are in the Smithfield East End Cemetery in Squirrel Hill.
Camera: Kodak EasyShare Z1485 IS.
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Rhododendron Season
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Orange Mushrooms
Old Pa Pitt is not a mushroom expert. He believes these to be Mycena leaiana, but any correspondent is invited to correct (or confirm) his identification. The ones below are a little past their prime, but still decorative.
Camera: Konica-Minolta DiMAGE Z3.
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It’s Iris Season
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Bridal Veil
The “Bridal Veil” Spirea (Spiraea × vanhouttei) is a very popular planting in the Pittsburgh area. It blooms only briefly, but it is glorious for those few days.
Camera: Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z3.
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A Tree Trunk in Riverview Park
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A Mushroom
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Father Pitt thinks this large bracket fungus looks like Polyporus squamosus, the Pheasant’s Back or Dryad’s Saddle. He would be delighted to be corrected by someone who understands the fungus world. It was growing on a fallen log in the Kane Woods Nature Area, Scott Township.
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Trillium Time on the Trillium Trail
The Trillium Trail in Fox Chapel is named for the vast drifts of trilliums that grow in the woods there. There are two species: the Great White Trillium, Trillium grandiflorum, and the Wake-Robin, Trillium erectum. The Great White is, as you might expect, white (though occasionally pale pink); the Wake-Robin has several color forms, of which red is the usual in most of its range, but white dominates in the Pittsburgh area.
Father Pitt’s best pictures of wildflowers always end up at Flora Pittsburghensis, which you should certainly see right now if you like spring flowers.
Great White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum).
White, red, pink, and yellow forms of the Wake-Robin (Trillium erectum).
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Fiddlehead
It requires very little imagination to see why young fern leaves are called “fiddleheads.” This one was unrolling in late April along the Trillium Trail in Fox Chapel.
