Now or Never – Observing spring ephemeral wildflowers

Well it is not exactly “now or never” as there is always next spring to see ephemeral wildflowers.  However, if you are like me and you enjoy native wildflowers you will want to get out as soon as possible to see and enjoy some of our most beautiful woodland flowering plants. Spring ephemerals is a general term for native plants that bloom early in the spring before the woodland trees leaf out. Now is the best time to see them because by mid-May much of the show will be over. These often small, delicate, but spectacular plants grow on the floor of mature woodlands; they are especially plentiful in the hilly Piedmont region of northern Delaware, nearby Pennsylvania, and Maryland.

Where to find spring ephemeral wildflowers

Many of these plants can be observed growing along the trails of our State Parks and other natural areas.  My favorite places to visit to search for these plants are the woodlands of Brandywine Creek State Park and White Clay Creek State Park in Delaware and White Clay Creek Preserve in Pennsylvania.  Other natural areas like Middle Run Valley Park and Ashland Nature Center are also good places to visit.  Spring ephemerals can be fun to photograph but be very careful not to disturb them or the soil around them. The following are some of my photographs that illustrate some of my favorite species. [slideshow_deploy id=’10173′]  

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