Spring ephemerals and more

Each spring before leafout in our temperate deciduous forest, a group of herbaceous plants known as spring ephemerals bloom. These plants are no longer very common because of browsing pressure from deer. At Lehigh Gap Nature Center, we have introduced several of these to our habitat gardens. Some of these species bloomed on April 17 and 18.

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) was the first one I saw. It was blooming in the forest inside our deer exclosure on the north slope of the Kittatinny Ridge in southern Carbon County, PA.

Bloodroot is also blooming in our habitat garden, where it is well established.

Rue anemone (Anemonella thalictroides) was also in bloom near the bloodroot.

In our bog garden, Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris) was also beginning to bloom.

In addition, our locally common, Pennsylvania endangered Wild Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra eximia) are beginning to bloom all over the refuge. This specimen is in our rock garden wall.

Finally, the tree swallows are pairing up and selecting nest boxes. They will be nesting very soon.