Spring is coming to the North Carolina Piedmont - which means the return of trout lily, spring-beauty, and other spring ephemerals! In this new series by Executive Director Karen McCall, we explore the wonder of spring wildflowers and celebrate the launch of our new native plant fundraiser through Garden for Wildlife.
I find this time of year as magical as the anticipation and excitement of the winter holiday season. Although we’re still several weeks away from the vernal (spring) equinox, spring ephemerals have already begun to pop out of the ground. Each day I go out, I scan the leaf litter for anything green pushing its way through and wonder which of my favorite plant friends will brighten my day, put a skip in my step, and bring a happy glow to my soul. I hope to share many of these plants with you in the coming weeks.
The term spring ephemerals means plants that have a very short growing season. Many show up here in the Piedmont of North Carolina in February and March, but may be gone in a month or two. Having this small window to watch their awakening and the promise of a new season full of color, plus the medicine and energy they carry, is truly… magical! Not only do many of these plants provide food or medicine, but they bring happiness and lightness to the heart as if being greeted by a long lost friend.
As I walk or run through the woods, my heart starts beating faster. My hopes rise as I glance to the spots I know are home to some of my favorites. At first, I see only shades of brown from the detritus covering the ground. But wait, is that a hint of green? My steps slow to a stop as I squat down for a closer look. Sure enough, I did see green! As I look around I see more, and some flowers too. Trout Lilies (Erythronium americanum) and Spring Beauties (Claytonia virginica) appear. It is as if they all have risen to wave.
Trout Lilies I find easy to recognize by their mottled purplish and green leaves that grow close to the ground, resembling a trout’s skin. Their 3 yellow sepals and 3 petals arch back as the flower appears to look down towards the forest floor. Spring Beauties are more subtle. Their flowers are made up of 5 delicate white petals with faint pink lines radiating from the center on each. The lines guide potential pollinators to the light yellow center and pistils (the long filaments in the center of the flower) with pink pollen on them for the prized nectar. Their leaves are long and thin coming off the stem. I didn’t see them until I was close to the ground scanning the area carefully. They open to the sky as if lifting many short arms up and out to celebrate the sun. Both of these plants have edible bulbs, best before their leaves come out, and the water extracts from the Trout Lily have shown to have antibacterial properties.
There are many beautiful native plants in our area that would make a great addition to your garden. Native plants require little maintenance once established, and play a crucial role in supporting birds, insects, and other wildlife. To protect wild plant populations, you should always purchase from trusted growers instead of collecting specimens from the wild for your garden. This year, Piedmont Wildlife Center has partnered with Garden for Wildlife by National Wildlife Federation to help you do just that! 15% of each purchase you make through our referral link will be donated directly to Piedmont Wildlife Center to help us connect more people with nature.
Beautify your yard, help local wildlife, and support nature education by purchasing native plants through our Garden for Wildlife fundraiser! Get started here - and stay tuned for more Plant Magic next week.
