Sunday Nature Walk: Spring's Wonderful Wildfowers - Easton ...

Sunday Nature Walk: Spring’s
Wonderful Wildfowers

New England is very fortunate, as the region is home to an extremely wide range of
wildflowers. From beautiful trilliums, to the rare yellow pitcher plant, New England
hosts habitats for many different species that vary dramatically from one another. The
trick to finding wildflowers, especially rare ones, is knowing where to look and what
habitat to observe. Areas that may appear empty one week can be teeming with a
desired species the next, all it takes is a trained eye…

Dutchman’s breeches are a common wildlfower in New England. The name comes from
the shape of the different components of the flower. Just try viewing it upside down! —
Tomas Koeck Photo
One of the more common species of wildflower is Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra
cucullaria) which can be found in rich forest environments. These flowers take
advantage of the lack of foliage in the canopy as many of the tree species have not
grown leaves yet. It got its name from its flower, whose appearance looks like
pantaloons that have been turned upside down (source: Kaufman).

Spring is a time where many delicate and rare wildflowers begin to bloom. One gem of

the woods is the yellow trout lily (Erythronium americanum). While trout lily as a species
is common, its flowers are actually very rare, with one percent of plants harboring
flowers each year. The species can be found in damp woodlands, its flower often being
seen before the leaves from the tree canopy fully develop, a strategy used by many
wildflowers of the region.

Yellow trout lily boasts beautiful yellow flowers in early spring. — Tomas Koeck Photo
Another gem of the deep woodland habitat is jack-in-the-pulpit. The “flower” is located
inside the “pulpit” or spade, a pouch structure with an overhanging hood almost acting
as a lid. The species’ roots were often harvested by native Americans and used for
medicinal properties. The leaves, however, should be left alone and can lead to a nasty
stomach ache if digested. These flowers bloom in early spring and can be found in bogs
and wetlands.

Jack-in-the-pulpit is a gem found in wetlands and bogs. The distinct flower is an easy
identification feature as there are few other species like it. — Tomas Koeck Photo
Red trillium (Trillium erectrum) is another plant found in this type of habitat and often
noticeable by its unusual leaf morphology. The leaves go around the entire plant in close
proximity to each other, known as a whorled arrangement. During its brief spring
blooming period, red trillium boasts a deep red flower that can occasionally even be
seen as purple. This is why depending on the source, Trillium erectum is sometimes
known as purple trillium.

Red trillium is a distinct flower found in wetland areas such as swamps, bogs as well as
near vernal pools. — Tomas Koeck Photo
Lady’s slipper (Cypripedium spp) is a rare find and a heavily sought after flower. This
beautiful wildflower is in the orchid family and is easily identifiable by its “slipper like”
flower that droops downward. This wildflower takes years to grow into a mature plant
and removing this flower from its habitat is heavily discouraged. Another relatively rare
sight in New England are carnivorous plants such as pitcher plants. The purple pitcher
plant is the more likely of the species to be found in New England as it is a northern
species. The yellow pitcher plant is native to southeastern United States and is generally
taller than its purple cousins.

Pink lady’s slipper is one of the more common species of lady’s slipper but is still a
wonder to find nonetheless! — Tomas Koeck Photo

Easton has an abundant habitat full of marshes, meadows and woodlands that harbor
many species of wildflower. Keep an eye out for these amazing creatures on your next
walk through the woods. For those who don’t know where to start, Easton and the
region contain a wide variety of trails and natural areas. Explore some of the trails to

find wildlife through the Aspetuck Land Trust preserves, or explore trails through the
Connecticut Forest and Park Association.

For more nature photos, fun facts, and environmental entries, you might like to follow
my nature photography Instagram,
@tomaskoeckhttps://www.instagram.com/tomaskoeck/.

Tomas Koeck
Koeck is a photographer and videographer. He is completing his bachelor’s degree in

Communication Studies from the School of Communication, Media & the Arts at Sacred
Heart University. He has worked on several stories with the non-profit Vision Project
and is on the Easton Courier’s news team. He has published in the Connecticut
Audubon Society, TAMRON Optics, ESPN, and the Spectrum. He has also been featured
on the prestigious Instagram wildlife photography platforms Elite Owls and Elite
Raptors. He also runs a YouTube channel with over 20,000 subscribers.
​
He has conducted scientific research for Penn State University on invasive plant
regeneration as well as field work with Dr. Kim Steiner of Penn State’s dendrology forest
biology division. Koeck is also a recipient of the University of Connecticut’s
Environmental Studies Award and has published species profiles for the Connecticut
Audubon Society.

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