Leonard Weber
April 5, 2023
The spring woodland wildflowers are often referred to as “ephemerals.” Their blooming time is brief, completed before the trees leaf out and shade the forest floor.
Anyone interested in an opportunity to see and become more familiar with a variety of small woodland spring wildflowers is invited to a free guided nature walk that will take place in Eliza Howell Park at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 29, 2023. *
It is a challenge each year to predict the exact time that these flowers will be in bloom; it naturally depends somewhat upon how warm spring is. Based on past years and on the weather to date, April 29 looks promising at this time.
We can usually expect to see the same species year after year in the park, but it is always exciting to find them — perhaps because we wait nearly 50 weeks between appearance or perhaps because we are fascinated by the names that have become attached to them historically.
Given their small size, these flowers are quite easy to miss. Until I learned when and where to look, I walked past Wild Ginger many times, failing to look under the heart-shaped leaves for the low dark flower underneath.
It’s difficult to choose a favorite among the ephemerals, but I have a special attraction to Yellow Trout Lily.
The violets in Eliza Howell Park are of several varieties.
While most of the woodland spring wildflowers bloom at approximately the same time, a couple are a little later. Two that might not yet be in bloom on April 29 are …
This quick preview of coming attractions is not complete until it includes one that is a favorite of a number of park visitors.
* Please enter Eliza Howell Park from Fenkell and go about halfway around the 1-mile road loop. The walk will last approximately 1 and 1/2 hours. The total distance covered will be about 1 mile, much of it on a dirt path.
For additional information or to sign up, please email
Eliza Howell Nature Walk 
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