Pantaloons in the Park

Growing in the shade of the trees, in a dry, but rich soil is the spring wildflower, Dicentra cucullaria, better known as Dutchman's Breeches, because the shape of the flowers look like old time pantaloons.

According to the Wiki article on this wildflower, this plant is sowed by ants that are attracted to the seed and bury it in their hills. These flowers can be found blooming in Indiana woods now, a bit later than they were blooming last year, when they were blooming on March 26.    

The Earlier Blooms of 2012

Flowers, trees, and bushes are blooming earlier this year. These Dutch Breeches bloomed around April 18th in 2011.

This year they are almost bloomed out by the end of March.

Who left their pantaloons in the park? And tiny spring babies...

Sunset Hill County Park is just beginning its spring wildflower show. Now blooming are Dutch Breeches, tiny pantaloons hanging from thin stems. Dutch Breeches can be found on the forest floor in drier areas with rich soil.

And new this spring to Sunset Hill are tiny baby goats. The Mama and Papa goats arrived from Minnesota last fall and apparently they spent the winter quite busy, because within the last two weeks 6 tiny baby goats have appeared.

They are ever so cute and being cared for by a young 4H'er. The goats are just the beginning of exciting changes being made to the park.