Over the weekend, Bill and I spent some time at Great Falls National Park in Virginia. Bill photographed the falls – and I spent my time photographing the wildflowers.
Along the path to the first overlook, I found two beds of Virginia Bluebells. The plants to the left of the trail were much easier to photograph – the ones on the right were down in a gully. To reach those flowers, I would have had to go a ways off the trail to get my tripod into place. The ones on the left were easily accessible – and I could leave my backpack on the trail – rather than risk putting it down on other plants.
There were several bluebell plants in the area – all in various stages of blooming. Here are some of my favorite photos from this weekend. The plants were 12 – 18″ tall.
Here are two side by side – with several others in the background.
(c) 2008 Patty Hankins
And some closer in photos of the flowers.
Virginia Bluebells (c) 2008 Patty Hankins
(c) 2008 Patty Hankins
(c) 2008 Patty Hankins
The bluebells will probably be blooming for a few more weeks at Great Falls. I’ve also seen bluebells at the National Arboretum in Washington, DC and at McCrillis Gardens in Bethesda, MD this spring. The ones at Great Falls were the easiest to access.
If you get a chance to get out to Great Falls National Park in the next few weeks – be sure to take some time to look at the Virginia Bluebells and other wildflowers. They are lovely at this time of year – and in just a few weeks, they will be gone until next year.
Hi Patty; its the first time I’ve seen these, what a gorgous blue – totally different to our bluebells – they must look stunning en masse. The trilliums are wonderful too 🙂
Chris
Thanks. The bluebells are amazing in groups. Since taking the photos at Great Falls – several people have told me about a field full of bluebells that blooms every spring in Manassas. I’m definitely going to check it out next year.
What shade of blue are your bluebells?
Patty
We saw a few of these last week in the nursery garden at Colonial Williamsburg, and wondered what they were. (It was afterhours or we would have just asked.) They were so obviously bluebells, but not the wood hyacinth type to which we’re accustomed. Very, VERY charming! Thanks so much for posting these lovely pics! (And for solving our mystery.)
I was at Great Falls Park today and saw some bluebells. I also saw other wildflowers blooming on the forest floor and I am trying to name them. Can anyone help?
Paula – do you have photos posted anywhere of the wildflowers you’re trying to identify? If you do – let me know and I’ll try to see if I can identify them
Patty
i want some bluebells in my garden
Bluebells are super pretty
i agree with marky