Tag Archives: Hooker’s Fairybells

For years I didn't realize there were tiny, exquisite bell-shaped flowers underneath the leaves of Fairybells, Prosartes hookeri, and Largeflower Fairybells, Prosartes smithii. Talk about shy! Craig Tooley recently found the Largeflower Fairybells in bloom.

Here is another look at the blossoms, a photo Craig took several years ago.

We have the smaller native wildflower, Hooker's Fairybells, growing in our forest. Here's what the leaves look like. Sorry, these next two are my photos and they are no where near the quality of Craig's!

The flowers hide underneath the leaves.

Okay, here's one of Craig's photos to make up for mine.

Many wildflowers are tiny - they are Mother Nature's way of making sure you pay attention!

Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is the link to his website: www.ruffimage.com

A beautiful, sun-splashed day on the Mendonoma coast today.

Spring doesn't know...

Many of our native wildflowers are quite small so you need to pay close attention when hiking in forests or on bluffs. Here are a few that are currently blooming.

Milkmaids, Cardamine californica, a member of the mustard family.

Milkmaids by Amy Ruegg

And Hooker's Fairybells, Disporum hookeri, a member of the lily family. The flowers shyly hid underneath this plant's leaves.

Fairy Bells by Amy Ruegg

Slink Pod, aka Fetid Adder's Tongue, Scoliopus bigelovii, also a member of the lily family.

Fetid Adder's Tongue, the first wildflower of the year, by Craig Tooley

All of these and more are blooming now, though the Slink Pod bloom may be over. I will share more of our coastal wildflowers soon.

The first two photos were taken by Amy Ruegg and the last was taken by Craig Tooley. I thank them for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is his website: www.ruffimage.com