Here in the Pacific Northwest, we are so lucky to experience real signs of spring in March. The plants that were budding in February are now blossoming and leafing out, with pollen beginning to collect on any stationary surface. Songbirds greet us in the morning, and the sunshine has some real warmth to it… sometimes. Reported phenology observations this month include:
- red flowering current in bloom
- osoberry shrub flowering in with beautiful white clusters – all over the place
- palmate coltsfoot growing taller and flowering in white, pink, and maroon bunches
- skunk cabbage continuing to grow and unfold into its bright yellow hooded shape
- salmonberry in flower
- frog eggs
- increased activity from birds of all kinds – including robins, varied thrush, juncos, sparrows, and ruffed grouse
In addition to these wild plants, garden bulbs are flower in profusion – adding color to our world every day.
What are you looking forward to next? Here at the Land Trust, Conservation Director Mike Auger can’t wait to begin seeing bleeding heart in bloom – he says that the Siebert Creek Conservation Area is a great place to view these bright pink plants in April.
We encourage you to take photos of what you see (or hear, or smell, or feel) happening out on the land. Whether you are hiking, surfing, birdwatching, gardening, or walking your dog, YOU are the best source of information on the land you love. You might try recording your observations in an app (such as iNaturalist or eBird) and we hope you will also share them with us!
Facebook: tag @NorthOlympicLandTrust, use hashtag #phenologyfiles
Instagram: tag @northolympiclandtrust, use hashtag #phenologyfiles
Email: send to paula@northolympiclandtrust.org
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- coltsfoot in bloom along the Elwha
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- frog eggs at the Lyre Conservation Area
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- osoberry in bloom
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- red flowering currant in bloom