There is a beautiful buzz about this time of year. A palpable energy that moves through and transforms a landscape. These long awaited changes happen quickly. One morning you look up to tints of green where brown, slumbering buds once stood. With the first fifty degree days the fuzzy white of a pussy willow bud transforms into the nectar filled flowers welcoming the pollinators back for spring.

Spring is a crucial time for pollinators - birds, bees, moths, and insects of all kinds. While it is easy to think that dandelions are the initial nourishment as these animals and insects return for spring, many native plants are producing nourishment long before. Some examples include the hard to recoginze blooms of pussy willows (pictured above), red maple, nine bark, dogwood, chokecherry, serviceberry and many more. On a smaller scale there are several early blooming native wildflowers that help smaller pollinators like ants make it through until food sources are more plentiful. Some examples of these flowers include bloodroot, wild ginger, pasque flowers, jack-in-the pulpit, violets, marsh marigolds, prairie smoke, bellwort, hepatica, and trout lilies. Spring is my favorite time to take a delicate walk through the woods and see what blooms are awakening. The bright colors provide beautiful contrast to the quiet brown bed of leaves. While you’re out there, take a peak at what the native bees are sampling - it might surprise you.

Did you know you can use your iPhone to identify plants, animals, and places? It is one of my favorite features and I have found it very accurate. The video or posted link will give you quick instructions on how to use that feature. Don’t have an iPhone? Snapchat also has the feature! If you’re looking for more information on Minnesota wildflowers, www.minnesotawildflowers.info has a great link called “What’s Blooming?” that lets you know what to be on the look out for! Want to find out what other natives provide early nourishment for pollinators? Tufts Pollinator Initiative has some great suggestions.

This week has brought sunshine, a little more energy, and a lot of moving plants! I think this will be an interesting year - we are currently about 3-4 weeks behind “normal” because of the cold weather. Regardless I think I will be a great one. Some much needed moisture has been replenished in the ground and our hardiest plants are starting to go into the ground and the tulips are beginning to peak through.. I am excited to see what the season brings and hope you are too!