Jewels of Spring Beginning to Bloom

Early spring wildflowers are beginning to bloom in the Hudsonville Nature Center and in woods around the area. If the weather cooperates, this looks to be an excellent year for spring wildflowers. Flowers such as Hepatica, Bloodroot, Marsh Marigold, Cut-leaved Toothwort, Spring Beauty and Harbinger-of-spring are all blooming. Many other spring species are also identifiable.

Bloodroot which is currently blooming for a very short time is a lovely white flower with the deeply lobed leaves often curled around the stem when in bloom. This plant gets its name from the red juice in the root. The juice will stain and was once used as a dye. It is reported the properties of this plant fight tooth plaque and some skin cancer. Don’t eat it as it is poisonous.

Not only are flowers beginning to bloom but angle wing and Morning Cloak butterflies have begun emerging as well. Birds are also migrating through and summer residents are showing up. Some mushrooms are also appearing.

I have included a couple of moss pictures with this entry to try to show you an example of the many wonders to be found in the moss world. Although I cannot identify very many species yet, they are always interesting and worth looking at. Mosses are often at their best in spring with the moisture and their Sporophytes visible.