Ephemerals and other spring flower beginning in Bill's Woods

Pollinators (Bees) Mating on Hepatica

On April 12, Glenda Denniston was surprised to find so many spring flowers already in bloom or buds on her walk through Eastern Bill’s Woods. Hepatica, one of the first ephemerals to blossom in spring, attracted many pollinators. Perhaps the bees came not to find nectar but merely for the gorgeous colors of Hepatica, ranging from white to lavender and a heavenly purple. For hepaticas are self-pollinating, perfect flowers that have both male pollen and female ovaries; they have no need for external pollinators.

The path into this gorgeous area of wood spring flowers, planted and tended over many years by Glenda, begins at the service road, across from the Heritage Oak. You can join Glenda on a spring flower walk on May 9, at Frautschi Point, past the Big Oak. All photos G. Denniston.

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