Red Empress Blooming

Red Trillium or Wake-robin
(Trillium erectum)

Also known as the Purple Trillium, Wake-robin, Bethroot and Birthroot, she is the reigning monarch of the Lanark Highlands in April, and she is the single northern wildflower most likely to leave me wide-eyed, breathless and down on my hands and creaking knees. There I was yesterday morning, down on the moist fragrant ground among last year's tattered leaves, peering into the leafy emerald shade like an old fool at one of the Old Wild Mother's finest creations ever.

If Georgia O'Keefe had been with me in the woods yesterday morning, she would have been kneeling too — and she would have begged for the privilege of painting this single magnificent bloom, its deep winey-red burgundy hue, its sumptuous flowing curves, and even its three whorled green leaves — all magic and a transcendant mystery.

While April days have been sunny for the most part, the nights have been cold in the Lanark Highlands, and my red empress is blooming almost alone in her protected cove. All around her, her red and white sisters sisters are tightly furled buds.

This is what the pure undiluted elemental grace of the earth looks like — this is perfection.