Wood Sorell

Down on the forest floor is the most seductive ground cover.

The leaves grow and spread in much more profusion than do the flowers. Because of the shape of the leaves, they are sometimes mistakenly called clover, but they belong to an entirely different family – Oxalis – which has some 550 species. Some are as tiny as this plant and others are large shrubs. Many spread by producing rhizomes/tubers and those have become food sources for humans and animals. They grow in all parts of the world except the poles.

The flowers of this species, Common wood sorrel (Oxalis acetosella), look very like Spring beauty and maybe the markings serve a similar purpose – to guide pollinators to the good bits. Here’s one now, a hover fly –

I’ve been meaning to photograph it for years, but never have because the bugs are just so intensely awful during the time it blooms. Mosquitos mostly, but gnats and black flies, too. Joy.

But that always seemed rather lame to me. So this year I decided to bring a little extra defense against the hordes – a portable ThermaCell insect repeller.

That did the trick. With mosquitos anyway which are the worst offenders. It did so well that photographing these became a joy rather than a trial. I relaxed into the process instead of swatting and swearing. Nice huh? I even tried my hand at some bunch berry –

That shot, as nicely lit as it is, isn’t the best composition ever so I’m calling it a sketch. If I ever get one the way I want it, I’ll circle back to this one so you can see the progression. But of course I had to try for the more traditional view as well –

This last one is under all natural light, but the rest were done with a combination of flash for some and the LED panel for others. Part of my techniques to try or at least use more are those two light sources. They make for really dramatic light sometimes and a subtle touch the others and my goal with these ground covers was to bring up just the flower and enhance the dim forest floor feeling. Both of these flower when there is full canopy so it can be pretty dark down there sometimes. It adds to the mystery and wonder though – just how do these fragile plants survive with so little sunlight?

But survive they do and so I’ll be back to see their beauty again.