Wildflowers

Spring Wildflowers

Some of the first wildflowers of the year appear shortly after the snow has melted. Look on the south facing slopes in beech and maple forests. Bright hints of green emerging from the brown leaf litter are one of the first signs of spring.

beech and maple woodlands

Over the years the natural process of plant decay has improved the fertility of the sandy glacial soils in upland forests. Many of the wildflowers bloom in the early spring before the leaves appear on the trees.

Common spring flowers in beech and maple woodlands include:

• trillium
• dutchman's breeches
• hepatica
• spring beauties
• trout lily