Trillium grandiflorum is flowering in many places throughout Fern Valley

There is a colony of this Trillium beside the main trail near the top of the steps that take the path to the stream level and another across the stream from the bottom of those same stairs. Odd individuals pop up here and there as a result of ant transported seeds so you can expect to see them anywhere.

Paeonea obovata, Paeonea cv., Paeonia 'Heron'

This is just another one of those outrageous spring weekends and, as gardeners, we don't have any extra time, but if we did, the Tree Peonies in the Asian Collection would be worth a visit. Tree Peonies have become trendy acquisitions and there are private collectors with hundreds of plants. Still, some of ours are 50 years old, many are species, and others are wild collected. The flowers are beautiful, but either lean in close if you're in front of a plant, or click on the images above for a closer view of their private parts, intricate, interesting, and with a peculiar beauty of their own.