Photo Essay | Spring Wildflowers Along the Root River Trail

Explore the simple joy of the unique blossoms that greet spring in the Driftless

By Renée Bergstrom, May 5, 2026

Clusters of nodding, bell-shaped flowers in shades of soft blue and lavender hang beneath broad green leaves. Some buds remain pinkish, showing the transition from bud to bloom.

Virginia Bluebells emerge in late April and early May. (Photo by Renee Bergstrom)

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ROOT RIVER VALLEY, FILLMORE COUNTY – Spring wildflowers are in their prime along the Root River Trail but their time is fleeting.

Now would be a good time to help your children or grandchildren locate and name common ones that grow here in Southeast Minnesota. When children recognize and name wildflowers, they develop a connection to nature that may engender curiosity and respect for all the wonders that surround us.

I followed the blooms as they emerged with each month and recorded where I saw them near mile markers around Lanesboro and Whalan.

In March, near mile markers 11 and 16, the first wildflower to open was Hepatica, followed by Bloodroot.

Cluster of delicate, pale pink to white hepatica wildflowers blooming close to the forest floor, each with six to eight soft petals and a green center. Thin dark stems rise from dry brown leaf litter and twigs, with a shallow depth of field blurring the earthy background.

Hepatica. (Photo by Renee Bergstrom)

White, cup-shaped spring flowers with bright yellow centers grow among rocks and dry leaves, interspersed with small blue flowers. The mix of white and blue blooms creates contrast across the rocky forest floor.

Spring flowers. (Photo by Renee Bergstrom)

In April, Spring Beauties emerged near mile marker 13.

Light pink spring beauty flowers with darker pink stripes radiating along each petal grow in a small cluster. Slender buds and narrow green leaves surround the blossoms, all emerging from a bed of dried leaves and forest debris.

Spring Beauties. (Photo by Renee Bergstrom)

Virginia Bluebells and Dutchman’s Breeches stretched for acres around mile marker 15.

Virginia Bluebells. (Photo by Renee Bergstrom)

White, upside-down, pant-shaped flowers hang in a row along arching stems, resembling tiny pairs of trousers. Fern-like green leaves spread below, covering the forest floor.

Dutchman’s Breeches. (Photo by Renee Bergstrom)

Three patches of white Rue Anemones in Whalan are adjacent to the trail near the bench by the river. Lavender and pink Windflower Rue Anemones grow near mile marker 18.

A carpet of tiny white rue anemone flowers rises above clover-like green leaves. Each flower sits on a thin stem, gently spaced across a lush green groundcover.

Rue Anemone. (Photo by Renee Bergstrom)

Small clusters of pale pink rue anemone flowers bloom on thin stems, each with delicate petals and yellow centers. The flowers rise above tiny green leaves against a softly blurred woodland background.

Windflower Rue Anemone. (Photo by Renee Bergstrom)

You may also see Blue Violets and White and Purple Violets in this location.

Small blue-violet flowers with five petals and pale centers bloom among rounded, glossy green leaves. Some blossoms face upward while others tilt down, growing low across sunlit soil.

Blue Violet. (Photo by Renee Bergstrom)

Mixed violet flowers in shades of purple and white bloom together among rounded green leaves. The white flowers show subtle purple markings near the center, creating contrast in the patch.

White and Purple Violets. (Photo by Renee Bergstrom)

In late April and into May, look for May-Apple umbrellas, Buttercups, Blue Phlox, Large Flower Bellwort and Wild Geraniums as they brighten the woods.

Two large, umbrella-like green leaves spread outward from a single stem, each leaf deeply lobed and glossy. The plant grows low among leaf litter and small woodland plants, creating a shaded, sheltered look.

May Apple. (Photo by Renee Bergstrom)

Two bright yellow buttercup flowers with shiny petals stand out against vivid green, deeply lobed leaves. Sunlight highlights the glossy texture of both the petals and surrounding foliage.

Buttercup. (Photo by Renee Bergstrom)

A cluster of lavender flowers on tall stems with five oblong petals grow in a grassy area

Blue Phlox. (Photo by Renee Bergstrom)

Soft yellow bellwort flowers hang downward from slender stems, their long narrow petals curling slightly at the tips. Surrounding foliage is fresh green, with mixed woodland plants filling the scene.

Large Flower Bellwort. (Photo by Renee Bergstrom)

Soft lavender wild geranium flowers with five broad petals and faint darker veins bloom above deeply cut green leaves. The flowers are open and airy, standing slightly above the foliage.

Wild Geranium. (Photo by Renee Bergstrom)

See more of Bergstrom’s nature photography at our full photo gallery, here.

Contributor

Renée Bergstrom

Renée Bergstrom is a photographer, weaver and painter whose artwork is available at Lanesboro Arts. Renée loves to dig in the dirt so you may see her in her garden along the Root River Trail. She is currently a Public Voices Fellow on Advancing the Rights of Women and Girls with the OpEd Project and Equality Now. The cohort of twenty women is publishing thought provoking articles.