PARTNER POST: Spring Ephemerals - Early Blooms, Big Impact

Did you know that you can find native plants in full bloom before the snow has melted? Late April to May is actually a great time to find certain species of native wildflowers. In fact, these plants have some of the most distinct blooms and play a key role in the ecosystem during a time when food is otherwise scarce for pollinators.

Spring ephemerals are a unique type of flowering plant that are commonly found in deciduous forests.  They can be thought of as our first sign that winter is finally coming to a close and warmer weather is around the corner. They display some of the most iconic blooms, such as is the case with Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria), which show off flowers that resemble puffy white pantaloons. In another example, the Large-flowered Bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora) blooms are bright banana yellow, with petals that dangle in corkscrew-like curls.

Read more about these early signs of spring on the website for MNL - one of our partners.