Bloodroot

There seems to be a bumper crop this year of Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), one of my favorite spring wildflowers. (Oh, who am I kidding? I love ALL spring wildflowers.) "The red juice from the underground stem was used by Indians as a dye for baskets, clothing, and war paint, as well as for insect repellent," according to my well-worn Audubon field guide. It's a member of the poppy family and you can see it growing along the side of country roads. I found these beauties along Hood Road on Thursday.