Paddling along the St. Louis River in spring reveals the wild beauty of this major Lake Superior tributary on the border between Wisconsin and Minnesota. But not all of the treasures can be viewed in passing. The river nourishes some hidden floral delights for those prepared - wear waterproof footwear - to make a few excursions ashore.

When exploring along the banks of the St. Louis, expect surprises. Here among the dense green foliage of the forest floor are sprinklings of color: bloodroot, hepatica, marsh marigolds, violets, jack-in-the-pulpit, wood anemone, bellwort, columbine, lady’s-slippers and the wild iris known as blue flag.

Most of the these flowers can be found on the public lands along the Wisconsin shore of the river below Highway 23.

The splendor begins by mid-April and the first blossoms are bloodroot and hepatica. When the jonquils are in bloom in your yard, the bloodroot and hepatica are waiting in the woods.

Marsh marigolds, sometimes called cowslips, emerge in wet areas in or next to slow moving water. Violets, jack-in-the-pulpit, wood anemone and bellwort prefer to grow under a canopy of birch and pine in mature woodland settings.

The wild orchid known as the yellow lady’s-slipper, more abundant than the showy lady’s-slipper, blooms in late May or early June. It pokes its bright yellow head out of ferns and grasses in semi-shaded areas. When you are looking for the yellow lady’s-slipper and jack-in-the-pulpit, you can easily spot the abundant trillium. They also like the semi-shaded areas of the forest, and as their blossoms age they become a soft shade of transparent pink.

As the season progresses into mid- and late June, blue flag can be seen on islands and in marshy areas. Blue flag, which looks like a domestic iris, has a slender delicate appearance. Wet feet may be the trade off for a close-up view of this magnificent blue flower. 

This time of year also brings out a rare and amazing treasure appearing in sheltered places among the pine and birch. The wild orchid known as the showy lady’s-slipper, sometimes called the pink-and-white lady’s-slipper, is the state flower of Minnesota. A legally protected plant, it is truly majestic. It is also fragile, does not like to be disturbed and requires a special type of soil to thrive. Considering that it takes 15 years from seed to blooming plant, the showy lady’s-slipper is a wonder to discover growing wild in quiet places along the St. Louis River. 

Carol Rahr Haubner, New Brighton, Minnesota, combines her photographic career with her love of the natural world.