April 21, 2025
Author: Phyllis Root
Photographer: Kelly Povo
Barely across the border from southeastern Minnesota into Wisconsin, a rustic dirt road winds along, the land sloping steeply up on one side and flattening out on the other. Here springtime native wildflowers bloom in so much diversity and abundance that we make several trips each spring just to see them unfolding.
The Monday after Easter was one of those trips on a chilly, breezy morning after a night of rain that made the damp moss on boulders almost glow. Ramps greened the hillsides. Hepatica bloomed, some purple, some white, all cheerful. Birds trilled. A stream emerged from a spring, forming a pool on one side of the road to rush away on the other side.
The hillsides were all posted No Trespassing, but even from the road we had our fill of flower chasing, wandering slowly along, soaking up the fresh air, buds, and blossoms. Pink Virginia spring beauty flowers sprinkled among last year’s dried leaves, waiting for sun to fully open. Bloodroot leaves still wrapped around their stems, several trout lily buds were close to blooming, and a few Dutchman’s breeches had already hung out their pantaloons out. Wild ginger leaves unfolded, at least one plant with a dark red velvety blossom. Mayapples were appearing, some barely poking out of the ground like white dots at the ends of tightly wound cylinders, others a few inches tall and beginning to spread their umbrellas of leaves. Sometimes the day seemed so steeped in stillness it was as though we could hear the flowers and trees and mosses growing.
We wandered blissfully along the road, spotting familiar flower faces and at least one new-to-us plant with thready yellow flowers that we identified as plantain leaved sedge (also called seersucker sedge). No matter how many times we’ve come down to this rustic road, we always see something new.
What we didn’t find was any sign yet of the many, many trillium flowers we’ve seen here before, so abundant that local people call this the valley of a trillion trilliums. (See note below about the upcoming Trillium Festival in the area.)
On the way home we crossed back into Minnesota to visit Kellogg Weaver Dunes where, scattered among last year’s dried grasses, the small white cheery flowers of lyre-leaved rock cress bloomed. A low-growing flower with a shiny yellow sheen turned out to be prairie buttercup, another new-to-us flower. Puccoon leaves were emerging, some still tiny nubs in the ground. Pasqueflowers, some past their prime, a few still fresh-looking, unfurled soft pale purple petals.
A richness of roadsides, a prairie beginning its bloom–wherever we find flowers, we are grateful for wild places. Flowers don’t stop at borders, and neither do we.
The second weekend in May the Rustic Road area will hold its annual Trillium Festival with trillium viewing, a native plant sale, maple syrup tasting, nature trails, and a ticketed event on Friday May 9 with guest speaker Douglas Tallamy, author of Nature’s Best Hope and Bringing Nature Home. For more information visit TRILLIUMFESTIVAL.ORG.
Best time of year; the improbable rebirth!
Which highway took you to this beautiful area, we love exploring too! Driving along roads is so much fun in the countryside. We can’t climb hills much anymore but still love to get out for the sights of spring wildflowers!
Thanks for your vivid words, my garden is really starting to spring up too!