Spring ephemeral wildflowers in Appalachian Mountains

So I have been out hiking and picking ramps to make my favorite ramp dishes.My top 3 are Ramp kimchi, ramp pesto and a ramp compound butter. I decided to start taking pictures of the flowers in their different stages. We have so many that are only around for a month or so in the Spring. They are a beautiful source of color in the forest before the undergrowth and trees leaf out. It is also a sign of a healthy diverse forest. I will try to continue to document them and the dates so I can compare over the years to see if the bloom time changes. A hill of ramps with cohosh.

Trillium abound in this area. This is red trillium, wake robin, birthroot or the latin is Trillium erectum growing with the ramps.
The nodding head of the trout lily, Erythronium americanum, before it opens.

This is the beautiful bloom that was only about a foot away.
Finally another trillium. This is Trillium grandiflorum in all of its glory.

In addition to being wonderful native plants they are also indicator species for Morel mushrooms. We are about a week out. Mushroom foraging is one of my true passions. More on that to come.