Wild Geraniums

I'm a bit taken by geraniums, both wild and cultivated. I have various shades of pink, purple, and red geraniums in my perennial beds or in pots. They look lush after weeks of rain. The wild geranium though is really beautiful with its lilac-colored petals and deeply lobed or cleft leaves. They grow in small clusters along trails at the edge of the woods or meadow, usually in moist soils.

Kodi and I walked at College Woods this morning. One of those perfect late spring/early summer mornings. A mix of warm sun and puffy clouds, clear air with low humidity, birds singing, and toads trilling. A chorus of toads trilled from around the pond. As one started trilling, the others followed. When you approach the pond, the nearby toads may go quiet. But stand still and wait patiently and the toads will start up again. Even with your naked eye you can see their vocal sac expand as they trill for up to 30 seconds.

On our way to the pond at College Woods we passed the lovely patch of wild geranium, also known as spotted cranesbill (the seed pod takes the shape of a cranes bill), photographed above.