April 15 marks the end of the tax season and the beginning of Kalamazoo's wildflower season. It's a good time to look for the early woodland wildflowers: Hepatica, Dutchman's Breeches, Marsh Marigold, and Spring Beauty. Of course, like many things in nature, there is year-to-year variation. In 2010, these flowers were at their peak by April 15. This Spring has been colder (as illustrated by yesterday's snow) and the wildflowers are later. Only a few plants were in bloom at the Kalamazoo Nature Center, but lots more had buds bringing the promise of more flowers next week.
Bloodroot bud (Sanguinaria canadensis)
Trout Lily bud (Erythronium americanum)
Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) in bloom.
Thanks for the good information on what is blooming around Kalamazoo.
ReplyDeleteIt's about the same here near Grand Haven. Despite the cold there are those few blooming wildflowers.