Spring moves north each year at a steady pace and with it the native and horticultural blooms in garden and woodland, the migrating birds and the reappearance of butterflies and other insects. This year spring seemed to come early and sporadically before retreating again. There has been spring rain and spring snow. Record high temperatures were set in March in many parts of the Midwest. The Virginia Bluebells that foolishly emerged and showed buds on April 1, were frost-nipped on April 6 this year. Trout Lilies did the same though they seem a bit sturdier. Our large patches of native violets are leafed out and now limp. The Golden Alexander was six inches tall by April 1. The Bloodroot popped out of the ground in the March heat wave and bloomed at about two inches high much like the tiny Snow Trilliums. The winter was mild enough that Bird’s Nest fungi were in good condition and had an insect visitor in late March this year.

Those who keep track of the seasonal cycles of plants and animals have been noting the changes as some climate patterns (including precipitation or lack thereof) move north. There are individuals and organizations that make these phenological observations. Some do so without formal programs in their own journals and Web sites. Groups and organizations have projects dedicated to studying change. There is a web site that keeps track of the first morels seen each year. In the southeastern states morels were found in February. By the end of March this year morels were found in southern Illinois.

Read the rest of the Scarths' column in our May issue...