Dutchman's breeches

Dutchman's breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) at Happy Hollow Park.  A common spring wildflower in Indiana woodlands.  Picture taken April 14, 2015.

Link to previous post on Dicentra cucullaria:

Link to Dicentra cucullaria:

Purple cress

Purple cress (Cardamine douglassii) at Happy Hollow Park between the main trail and Happy Hollow Creek.  April 14, 2015.
Link to previous post on Cardamine douglassii:

Link to Cardamine douglassii:

Oil beetle

I noticed this huge bug crawling across the Duncan Hall parking lot in downtown Lafayette.  Never saw anything like this but after looking into it I think it's an oil beetle.  Meloe, possibly Meloe americanus.  Interesting that these bugs feed on plants of the buttercup family.  Most buttercups are poisonous or at least distasteful to humans and other animals.

Photo taken April 14, 2015.

Link to Meloe:

Link to Meloe americanus:

Link to oil beetles:

Cornelian cherry (Cornus)

This cornelian cherry tree (either Cornus mas or Cornus officinalis) is flowering in front of the old West Lafayette City Hall on Navajo St.

Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas or Cornus officinalis) in flower on Lindberg Road near Northwestern Ave.

Cornelian cherry can be easily confused with spicebush (Lindera benzoin) as both are small trees that show clusters of tiny yellow flowers at about the same time in very early spring.  Spicebush is native to Indiana woodlands but sometimes is planted as landscaping.  Cornelian cherry (Cornus) can be distinguished by the four petals on the tiny flowers.  The bark of cornelian cherry has a mottled look and the twigs don't have the spicy aroma of spicebush.

Pictures taken April 13, 2015.

Link to Cornus mas:

Link to Cornus officinalis:

Link to previous post on cornelian cherry:

Spicebush

Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) flowering on April 10, 2015.  This spicebush is not growing wild but was planted next to the bird feeding area outside the nature center at Celery Bog Park.

Link to previous post on spicebush:

Another link to spicebush:

Veronica polita is flowering

Veronica polita, one of the speedwells.  I noticed this clump of Veronica polita on 10th St. in downtown Lafayette, March 28, 2015, this is the first I've seen it flowering this year.  This weedy species is found flowering in everyone's yard in early spring.

Link to previous post on Veronica polita:

Old deteriorated puffball

This old deteriorated puffball was found in the woods in Celery Bog Park.  Probably a Calvatia gigantea.  I am poking it with a stick to expel some of the spores, appearing as that dusty stuff you see.  Photo taken March 17, 2015.

Link to Calvatia gigantea with some old mature photos:

Link to Calvatia gigantea:

Link to Calvatia gigantea: