The Wood Lily

By Lexi on July 24, 2014 in Blog

The sporatic wood lily (Lilium philadelphicum) can be found flowering in prairies across the state from mid-June to late-July. This one in particular was found on our Flowering Hill Prairie in Dickinson County, a dry prairie remnant that has never been plowed.

Ernest (Ernie) and Edna Skow donated Flowering Hill Prairie to INHF in 1985 through a reserved life estate to make sure it will always be prairie, and at the same time they kept the right to use and enjoy the prairie during their lifetimes. After both passed, INHF accepted full ownership of this seven-acre property in 2008 to continue taking care of the land in honor of Ernie and Edna Skow.

According to the Coefficient of Conservatism in Iowa, wood lilies are rated 9 out of 10 because of how uncommon they are to discover. Definitely worth capturing a photo of these beautiful, but unusual wildflowers!