A few of the tiny wildflowers are beginning to emerge.
Small-flowered Woodland star ~ Lithophragma parviflorum (blossom size about 1/4 in – .64cm)
March 13, 2015
Woodland Star and friends
Small-flowered Woodland star ~ Lithophragma parviflorum (blossom size about 1/4 in – .64cm)
Spring Draba, Spring Whitlow-grass ~ Draba Verna (blossom size 1/8 in – .32cm)
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Montana Outdoors 
The shape of the petals are interesting. I think I’m interested in that kind of thing more than the colors or other things most people see.
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Comment by Ratty — March 13, 2015 @ 11:35 pm
That’s one of the many things that I love about wildflowers. There are so many different shapes, and I always wonder just how the shapes play into their success strategies.
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Comment by montucky — March 14, 2015 @ 9:01 am
Love their delicate petal shapes! Spring is springing! š
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Comment by bayphotosbydonna — March 14, 2015 @ 4:33 am
Here, we are having temperatures that are quite normal in summer, and it’s already getting very dry out there. Several wildfires already.
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Comment by montucky — March 14, 2015 @ 9:03 am
Oh no, that is not good. š¦
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Comment by bayphotosbydonna — March 14, 2015 @ 9:10 am
No, is isn’t. Our snow pack in this area is only about 60% of the normal. Oh well, it has happened before many times and nature has its own strategies to deal with it.
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Comment by montucky — March 14, 2015 @ 9:15 am
Beautiful flowers and photos.
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Comment by derrycats — March 14, 2015 @ 4:38 am
Thanks! Wildflowers are one of my passions.
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Comment by montucky — March 14, 2015 @ 9:03 am
Ha – spring is on its way š
David.
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Comment by David A Lockwood — March 14, 2015 @ 7:53 am
It sure is!
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Comment by montucky — March 14, 2015 @ 9:03 am
The woodland star is a beautiful thing. It reminds me of ragged robin.
it’s amazing that you have wildflowers blooming there while we still have a foot of snow on the ground.
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Comment by New Hampshire Garden Solutions — March 14, 2015 @ 7:56 am
I was just thinking the same thing, that it reminded me of ragged robin. In fact, last night I compared photos of both and could see similarities.
We still have snow up high, but the valleys are approaching summer-like conditions.
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Comment by montucky — March 14, 2015 @ 9:05 am
Amazing shapes! And so tiny…I can see you now, stretched out, with your camera pointed at something so small…thanks for sharing. I am going to re-exam a few of the little blooms around. I so enjoy exploring your spring. hugs
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Comment by Beth — March 14, 2015 @ 8:52 am
One of the tricks in photographing these (besides not being able to use a tripod) is as you say “stretching out” without damaging other blossoms or fragile plants. I end up finding a lot of rocks that way!
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Comment by montucky — March 14, 2015 @ 9:07 am
The Woodland Star’s petals seem to be cut out of paper – nice shot!
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Comment by iAMsafari.com — March 14, 2015 @ 8:58 am
Yes, they are paper-like, with none of the fine lines and creases of most flower petals. I wonder if it is because these very early bloomers are in such haste to be among the first that they have developed very simple structures. I’m also guessing that part of their strategy is to bloom first where they capitalize on being the only blossoms available for the early pollinaters, assuring them a higher success rate.
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Comment by montucky — March 14, 2015 @ 9:13 am
Sounds like a very plausible theory – early blooming flowers often have a simple anatomy indeed to attract early pollinators. More complex, deep/ tubular flowers will attract pollinators that appear later such as butterflies.
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Comment by iAMsafari.com — March 14, 2015 @ 9:26 am
How very beautiful! Lovely to see them – our celandines are just opening out, and the first primroses.
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Comment by Jo Woolf — March 14, 2015 @ 11:40 am
Yes, it’s a delight to be seeing new flowers once again. Spring has such a pleasant way to help get us over winter.
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Comment by montucky — March 14, 2015 @ 7:09 pm
Beautiful!
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Comment by centralohionature — March 14, 2015 @ 2:33 pm
Thanks!
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Comment by montucky — March 14, 2015 @ 7:09 pm
Very delicate.
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Comment by wordsfromanneli — March 14, 2015 @ 4:02 pm
They are. Just the slightest breeze moves them about, and yet they are amazingly hardy.
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Comment by montucky — March 14, 2015 @ 7:10 pm
Hi Montucky, I like those Dabras. Beautiful little blooms! Have a fabulous Sunday tomorrow!
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Comment by wildlifewatcher — March 14, 2015 @ 9:25 pm
Thanks! Have a good Sunday too. We will be getting some much-needed rain!
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Comment by montucky — March 14, 2015 @ 9:36 pm
You did a great job of demonstrating the tiny size of the flowers, so indicative of wild woodland flowers. And having a close-up photo brings the viewer closer than one would normally see while walking. Enjoyed this post. š
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Comment by Jet Eliot — March 15, 2015 @ 8:13 am
Thanks! Yes, some are so tiny that they are overlooked and at best need some kind of enlargement.
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Comment by montucky — March 15, 2015 @ 7:48 pm
Good to hear you’re getting rain. I know I’ve seen those woodland stars here before, but I don’t remember noticing the leaf-like shape of their petals. They really are unique, and so pretty. I drabas remind me of our blue-eyed grass, just because of their size and simplicity. The grasses are more interesting than I ever imagined.
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Comment by shoreacres — March 15, 2015 @ 8:17 am
We’ve had about 3/4 inch of rain last night and today: it will help! Only once have I seen blue-eyed grass around here, 5 years ago.
It’s interesting that the very first of the wildflowers seem to be among the smallest and most fragile.
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Comment by montucky — March 15, 2015 @ 7:54 pm
Especially love the texture and bokeh on the Woodland Star!
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Comment by Candace — March 15, 2015 @ 1:48 pm
I can think of very few wildflowers that have that kind of texture on their petals.
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Comment by montucky — March 15, 2015 @ 7:56 pm
Dainty and delicate looking.. Pretty!
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Comment by Mother Hen — March 15, 2015 @ 9:42 pm
They sure are, and they signify the beginning of about eight months of wildflowers blooming here.
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Comment by montucky — March 15, 2015 @ 10:02 pm
Very beautiful wild flowers. So spring is there, I see. Here we have on days 8ĀŗC / 46.4ĀŗF and on nights -10ĀŗC / 14.0ĀŗF. This week we have started to drink our midday coffee on our balcony watching how the lakeās ice start to melt. What is amazing also, is how the lake start to āsingā after cold night when sun warms the ice!
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Comment by Sartenada — March 16, 2015 @ 3:41 am
Sounds like spring is starting there too, although your nights are still a little colder than here. I would love to hear that lake “sing”!
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Comment by montucky — March 16, 2015 @ 7:23 pm
I sent my small video to You. Enjoy!
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Comment by Sartenada — March 17, 2015 @ 4:25 am
Thank you again for sending that! It was amazing!
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Comment by montucky — March 17, 2015 @ 7:54 pm
We have woodland stars here too. But your picture is perfect.
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Comment by Lynn Millar — March 16, 2015 @ 3:45 pm
Thanks Lynn. I thought they might be native to the west coast too. The first ones to bloom are always the smallest and larger ones will com in a few weeks, but I love to see the very first and can’t resist trying to photograph them.
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Comment by montucky — March 16, 2015 @ 7:26 pm
I love the small and intricate flowers on these woodland plants. They are simple, elegant, and beautiful. Wonderful photos!
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Comment by WildBill — March 16, 2015 @ 5:30 pm
Thanks Bill. Wildflowers captured my heart many years ago, and they are my favorite parts of the forests and back country.
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Comment by montucky — March 16, 2015 @ 7:28 pm
I so love to see wildflowers and this one captured my heart with its intricate petals. So unique.
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Comment by Mama's Empty Nest — March 18, 2015 @ 7:05 am
Yes, it’s a beautiful little thing. Too bad it isn’t larger though.
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Comment by montucky — March 18, 2015 @ 8:33 am
It really is the small things in life…
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Comment by burstmode — March 31, 2015 @ 5:44 am
And sadly, the ones often missed.
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Comment by montucky — March 31, 2015 @ 8:08 am