Spring has sprung! Eastern bluebirds have returned, chorus and leopard frogs are singing their hearts out, and some of our earliest spring ephemeral flowers have begun to emerge from the soil. It’s an exciting time of year that never gets old. Join me for a quick virtual hike to explore what’s happening outside right now!
Fuzzy quaking aspen buds
While there are no leaves on the trees yet, if you look up at the tips of the branches you may notice that many different tree species are starting to produce buds. They come in all different shapes, colors, and sizes but some of my favorite are the fuzzy catkins (pictured above). Birch, willow, and aspen are a few different types of tree species that produce these super soft buds and they’re some of the first to emerge.
The main reason these buds are so fuzzy is for protection from the cold. Because these trees bud out so early, they need their own version of a puffy jacket!
Prescribed fire at Westport Prairie
If you step outside right now, you might spot plumes of smoke rising in the distance. That’s because fire season is in full swing—a key part of managing and restoring native habitats.
As these controlled burns sweep through our favorite natural areas, they clear out invasive woody plants while leaving native species unharmed. With their deep, resilient roots, native plants remain safely underground, ready to thrive once the fire has passed.
If you have the chance, visit a recently burned area. You’ll be amazed at how quickly native flowers emerge, often weeks ahead of plants in unburned areas. It’s a powerful reminder of how fire, when used responsibly, restores and revitalizes the land.
Pasque flower in bloom
Lastly, I’ll leave you with one of my all-time favorite flowers—the pasque flower. They are one of the first native wildflowers to bloom, and they are a sight to behold!
If you look closely, you might notice that this little flower is covered in fuzz. Look familiar? Like the fuzzy catkins found on trees such as birch, willow, and aspen, pasque flowers have a thin, fuzzy layer for the exact same reason. Many of our spring ephemeral flowers are fuzzy to help insulate them from the cold.
Well, that’s all for this month! It’s easy to find interesting things in nature—you just need to get outside! I hope you make time to do so yourself, and I’ll see you next month for another nature update.