Around early March, the fever begins across the Chesapeake region. Random people mention in hushed, and not so hushed, tones “I’m really ready for Spring …” If you are lucky enough to get out into the woods at this time of year, signs of the Chesapeake spring abound … bright green skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) leaves and spring bulbs like trout lily (Erythronium americanum) growing on the forest floor.
In our Chesapeake gardens, these top 5 favorite natives signal spring really is coming:
Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis) buds forming;
Dogwoods (Cornus florida) budding;
Christmas fern (Polystichum acrosstichiodes) fronds unfurling;
Celandine poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum) blue green foliage emerging; and
Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) blooming
If you have these natty natives, early March is the time to start looking for their emergence. If you don’t have these yet, plenty of places to get them! I hope you enjoy the amazing process of the unfolding spring.
