By Tammy Thompson
Aptly-named, spring ephemerals are perennials that complete their life cycle in just a short time. Most emerge, bloom, and set seed in a matter of weeks, lying dormant the rest of the season. Found near forested trails and woodlands, catching them in their full glory feels like catching magic! Oh yeah…they are also the primary food and nectar source for pollinators in early spring!
The list of spring ephemerals in the lower Midwest is longer than one expects. Most of us have heard of Sweet William, Virginia Bluebells and Trout Lily. But these only scratch the surface of what spring offers.
Sometimes it’s hard to know when to venture out to see these short-lived treasures!
Here are some of the ephemerals that grow in this area and the timeframes they generally flower.
| March Spring Beauty (February-May) Bloodroot (March-April) White Trout Lily/White Dogtooth Violet (March to May) Dutchman’s Breeches (March-May) Virginia Bluebells (March-June) False Rue Anemone (March-May) May Apple (March-May) Toothwort (March-May) |
April Jack in the Pulpit (April to June) Trillium/Wake Robin (April-June) Large Bellwort (April to May) Wild Sweet William (April to June) |
*Source Missouri Department of Conservation
You now know when to start looking, but where can you see some of these fabulous spring ephemeral shows! There’s something close no matter where you live. Here are a few sites.
| Missouri Isley Park Woods-Excelsior Springs Hidden Valley Park-KC (North) Powell Gardens-Kingsville Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary-Liberty Lakeside Nature Center-Kansas City KC WildLands – iNat Umbrella Project (several locations in KC area) Burr Oak Woods Conservation Area – Blue Springs |
Kansas Overland Park Arboretum Shawnee Mission Park-Shawnee Ernie Miller Park & Nature Center-Olathe Wyandotte County Lake-Kansas City Kaw River State Park Trail-Topeka Dyck Arboretum-Hesston Perry Lake Park-Perry Clinton State Park-Clinton |
Nebraska Indian Cave State Park-Shubert Fontenelle Forest-Bellevue Lauritzen Gardens-Omaha |
Many of these places host guided nature hikes and show you all the beautiful hiding places! Check them out AND BE RESPECTFUL of these delicate spaces. Stay on trails, don’t venture on closed trails, and avoid trails that are muddy.
So! Get out and hike a woodland near you and bottle up a dose of spring hope!
