Accent on Natural Landscaping

Donna VanBuecken

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Resources
  • Organizations & Blogs
  • Archives
  • Contact

Spring Blooms

March 27, 2019

Spring is here, but with all the snow still on the ground, I’m not certain the ephemerals will be too eager to show their delicate blossoms.

Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) is the most delightful spring ephemeral not only because of it’s cute name, but also because of its cute blossoms and frilly leaves.

The first thing that typically shoves through the ground here at my home is the Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra cucullaira). I have some that grows naturally, along the east fence line around the pool area, which typically shows itself first thing after the spring equinox. But not yet this year!

Other patches have been transplanted, from plant rescues, into the wooded area I created many years ago, and probably because they get less sun, they bloom a tiny bit later in the spring.

Virgina Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum) and Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) just poking through the ground in the spring.

The next thing that typically pokes itself through the ground is the Virginia Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum). Although often considered a weed, it is a native plant and a god-send for our early pollinators looking for nectar. So don’t be too eager to get rid of this rather aggressive native plant.

Phenology

Do you keep a history of when your plants bloom? I prefer to take photos, but many people write and/or draw in a journal or enter data in a log. Keeping this type of a history is called phenology.

“Phenology is the study of the influence of climate on the timing of biological events, such as annual plant flowering and seasonal bird migration. These events are partially driven by changes in temperature and precipitation; therefore, phenology studies how these events may reflect changes in climate. Since events are partially driven by shifts in temperature and precipitation, studying phenology can provide insights into changes in climate.” (USGS)

I find it interesting to see how the seasonal variations in our climate affect the blossoming of our plants, trees and shrubs. If you don’t currently track the blooming times of your native plants, give it a try. You will be surprised by what the data shows you.

Note: If you’d rather use the Internet, instead of creating your own history, go to  Project Budburst and become one of their citizen scientists.

Leave a comment and let me know what’s coming up in your yard.

   Send article as PDF   

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Signup button.

Recent Posts

  • OVER-THE-COUNTER NATIVE PLANT SALE MAY 21
  • WOFVA’s NATIVE PLANT SALE MAY 21
  • Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA)
  • Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame 2022 Inductees
  • Native Landscaping Design

Category Archives

  • Biodiversity
    • Monarchs
    • Pollinators
  • Birds
  • Climate Change
  • Events
  • Fire
  • Funding
  • Garden and Landscape Design
  • Heroes
  • Homestead
    • Recipe
  • Invasive Plants
  • Native plant garden design
  • Native Plants
  • Natural Landscaping
  • Prairie
  • Public Comment Opportunity
  • Railroad
  • The Sky
  • Wellbeing
  • Wetlands
  • Wildflowers
    • Trees & Shrubs
  • Wildlife
    • Wolves
  • Wisconsin
  • Women
  • Woodlands

Copyright 2005-2018
Donna VanBuecken