Trillium

This is "Trillium Grandiflorium", or "large flowered trillium". There were huge masses of these flowers in the woods near the lake when we were walking this morning. These are native to Eastern North America, from northern Quebec all the way down the U.S. through the Appalachian Mountains & into the northern-most part of Georgia & they are found as far west as Minnesota. It's most commonly found in rich mixed upland forests. It's referred to as a "spring ephemeral"--a plant whose life-cycle is synchronized with that of the deciduous woodland which it favors. They bloom from late spring to early summer.