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Wildflower Whimsy
Written By: Michelle S. Ruigrok | Issue: 2015/04 - April
The Highlands Biological Foundation will again host Wildflower Whimsy this May 8-9.
Each spring, before the forests fill with lush, green leaves – and while the taste of a harsh and gray winter lingers — a remarkable event offers a reprieve: a wild garden of spring wildflowers buried in the leaf litter of the forest floor erupts with a riot of color and fragrance.
These flowers nourish our senses and feed our native bees. With its low-growing and delicate blossoms, this fleeting world can go unnoticed if you’re not looking for it because these particular species must flower, fruit, and go to seed before the leaves of the trees fill in the canopy and block sunlight from reaching the forest floor.
In fact, many of these plants will disappear back into dormancy in a matter of weeks – or days – until the next spring.
The science behind the timing of these ephemeral flowers is also delicate, fleeting, and beautiful. A complex interaction of environmental and biological factors – the nature of the previous winter, temperature above and below ground, moisture, humidity, slope, altitude, wind, and timing of insect pollinator emergence, among other things – is responsible for this burst of activity, but balance is essential.
The uncertain character of spring wildflowers in the woods in May makes the discovery of new blooms so precious.
Whether you daydream of sweeping patches of trout lilies and beds of bloodroot to stave off the winter blues, or you’re unfamiliar, but curious about this diminutive world, Wildflower Whimsy promises to deliver.
This celebration will deepen your appreciation of the spring ephemeral wildflowers, sharpen your observation skills, and show you some of our favorite places to discover wildflowers.
On Friday evening, May 8, whet your palette with heavy hors d’oeuvres, a wine reception, and native plant auctions after a lecture on native plants and pollinators by Nancy Adamson of the Xerces Society.
The next morning, sharpen your wildflower knowledge on a guided wildflower walk, handpicked from a selection of our favorite places to seek out new blooms, and led by local and regional experts.
All proceeds from this event benefit the Highlands Biological Foundation, whose mission is to foster research and education focused on the rich natural heritage of the Highlands Plateau. Members of the Foundation receive a discount.
For more information about Wildflower Whimsy, visit www.highlandsbiological.org/wildflower-whimsy/ or call (828) 526-2221.
