Another wildflower found on the ledges near yesterday’s waterfall is Early Small-flowered Saxifrage-Micranthes virginiensis. Despite my title, referring more to the plant’s success growing on rock than size, this is a tiny wildflower and the inflorescence is not very big at all. Just a bit more in diameter than a dime.
Small though they are, the flowers do make a nice litle bouquet.
Stephen Gingold Nature Photography Blog 
The tightly clustered buds remind me of the very earliest stage of bluecurls buds.
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I went to this page to see them and I agree. Those area different plant than the bluecurls we see here although their buds are similar.
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Here’s another view of the buds that shows them a little better. I think both of them are cute as can be.
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Thanks. There is a great similarity. And that is a great shot as well.
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Great find. And fascinating the difference between the two, though they’re the same. Just a shift in perspective and intent and you show us two different worlds.
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Thanks, Todd. The closeup does give a better idea of what they buds/blooms look like.
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Beauty know no size. Another example…water droplet.
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Absolutely. The water droplet contains an entire other world…sort of.
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That’s a good closeup. You must be happy to finally be getting some wildflowers.
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Thanks. Yes, it’s slow going but soon I’ll have a hard time keeping up.
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A very pretty bouqet, indeed, Steve, but I also really like the setting/backdrop. Do you happen to know the name of the surrounding plant?
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Thanks, Tanja. That’s sphagnum moss.
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Thank you for letting me know!
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It’s a fractal world.
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Beautiful flower. I love all the small things. I don’t think I’ve seen this flowering plant in my area of New Jersey.
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You do have them there according to the USDA map. They prefer rocky areas. These are on ledge.
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I got a tip from a local nature conservancy about where I might find them.
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That’s great, Khürt.
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I found the rocky ledge. Hopefully I found the right plant.
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Nice Steve! Like the detail!
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Thanks, Reed.
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Beautiful find, Steve. Amazing how nature manages to hold on, even with very little to hold on to, but just enough.
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Plants that grow on the least bit of purchase amaze me. Nature does what is necessary to survive despite the obstacles it faces. Thanks, Pete.
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I’m always intrigued by plants in weird places too. Once I found a seedling rowan tree growing in the cleft of a birch tree – it didn’t seem to have any chance of surviving long, so got replanted elsewhere – but it’s amazing to see trees growing out of split rocks, as they do in Scotland . (And elsewhere, I guess.)
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Your “elsewhere” comment reminded me of this old image (second one down) from a few years back.
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Crikey! Those maple seedlings are a bit hopeful…amazing where seeds will germinate!
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I doubt any of them survived but it was such an interesting find.
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Marvelous images, Steve! The first reminds me of a William Morris print.
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Thanks, Eliza. Now that you mention it I can see that.
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I love that first shot, Steve. Eliza put it well. It is so rich and textural.
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Thanks, Susan.
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Cool! I love your photos and the way this little guy grows through the moss. There seem to be a lot of Saxifrages on this island – several of the early wildflowers here belong to that family. Later, there are Heucheras, Tellima, Tolmiea, and Tiarella! There’s something about the rock garden types that appeals and I can’t put my finger on it. Maybe their upright posture and bold stance are a bit tree-like, or human-like, albeit on a far smaller scale. Our version of yours is M. integrefolia. There are lots of them in my current favorite park (because it’s open?) growing on rocky, open balds.
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Very nice. I wonder how many folks would walk right on past and not notice?
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I imagine many do, although against the green ledge wall they do sort of stand out but in a small way. Thanks.
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