Wildflowers for Everybody - 1st in a Series

“Spring showers bring May flowers.” We’ve all heard the adage; and we all appreciate the beauty of a field of wildflowers in bloom. This is a series of weekly articles for the month of May to showcase the importance of wildflowers. Flowers play a role in society and nature that few of us recognize.

The first of the spring flowers to emerge in this part of Pennsylvania in wooded areas is rarely thought of as a flower – the purple flower of skunk cabbage emerges in wetlands in April. Eastern skunk cabbage derives its name from the foul-odor the plant emits when leaves are broken or crushed. The skunk-like odor attracts pollinators such as flies and bees that help complete the lifecycle of the skunk cabbage. The plant is particularly attractive to carrion (dead animal) insects because it is the first flower to emerge after winter. Skunk cabbage can even grow in icy soils by creating its own heat in a process called thermogenesis. The warmer air temperature inside the flower moves the foul odor to the atmosphere; the warm air may be another reason that skunk cabbage attracts flies. Native Americans used skunk cabbage as a medicine to improve breathing.

May brings a banquet of wildflowers - spring beauties, Canada mayflowers, trilliums, jack-in-the-pulpits, bloodroot, juneberry, black cherry, gaywings – the roadsides and understories of forests shower the eye with dainty and beautiful flowers.


Are you asking yourself how to get started on enjoying wildflowers? Knowledge adds an ‘edge’ to the beauty of the native flowers. Many anglers have graduated from fishing small streams in the north woods to also carrying a small, flower identification guide in their vest. Many guides are available at most book stores, and almost all of the guides will work depending upon your knowledge of the parts of plants. If you are a beginner in identification of wildflowers then start with a wildflower guide that uses color and overall shape of the flower. Pick a guide that covers flowers in the region of the country you live in or, better yet if available, a flower guide specific for your state. The goal is to get started. Buy a flower guide today and start enjoying what Pennsylvania offers in the springtime.

The US Forest Service is providing a series of articles is recognition of National Wildflower Month.