Today is the 56th anniversary of a worldwide movement in support of this beautiful blue planet. One way to celebrate Earth Day is to go for a “be free-ing” spring ephemeral walk.
Now is the special time between snow pack melt and canopy closure when spring ephemeral flowers bloom. The plants produced compact leaves, stems, and flower buds within their bulbs this past fall. So with the soil temperature and light cues of early spring, the ephemerals are ready to burst through the leaf litter. This rapid growth can cause emerging leaves and flowers to get choked in decaying leaves.
When you notice this, gently remove the old leaves and let the spring ephemerals be free – a small gesture of care and connection in celebration of Earth Day.