“Up Close with Trout Lily”
“The intricate details in nature are a thing to behold. The closer you look, the more wonderful those details become.” – Ed Lehming
For me, trout lilies mean spring is in full swing. The ground and air have warmed enough that these wonderful little flowers open up; one or two scattered randomly at first and then a profusion of yellow splashes seemingly everywhere.
The more I observe them the more subtle differences in appearance that I notice. In some, even close together, the petals are pure yellow, some have some brown markings, while others, like the one pictured here have quite a bit of brown. There is also a variation to the colouring of the stamen. In this example, the stamen is quite orange while others are yellow. There is such wonderful variation in a single species.
They are also fun to photograph as they require me to get down quite low to the ground to capture the details effectively. Shots from straight above are quite boring. The need to get down low also means that my fellow hikers often walk past me wondering why I am laying down. I now also have the added risk of acquiring ticks while doing this, something I have not had to concern myself with in the past.
Nikon D800
Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1 (272ENII)@90mm
1/320 sec, f/9.0, ISO 200
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Great shot Ed! I share your enthusiasm for trout lilies, and I, too, get down in the leaf litter to shoot them. I’ve found the rise of Lyme diseased ticks has changed my relationship with the woods quite a bit as I’m much more “considered” when I think about going through tall grasses or lying down in the leaf litter.
I’ve invested in a set of what I call “tick armor”—a set of pants, shirts, and socks all treated with permethrin. This chemical is harmless (well supposedly) to humans and dogs, but deadly on contact to those pesky ticks. You can either buy pre-treated clothing that’s good for 70 washings, or buy a spray bottle of permethrin to treat your own clothes. I highly recommend it!
Thanks for the note on permethrin, I’ll look into it. I also invested in more specialized clothing recently and am in the habit of doing a thorough visual inspection when I exit the forest.
It’s sad that we need to be so careful. Another effect of climate change I’m afraid…