I don’t think I have ever been so anxious for spring to arrive as I have this year. Of course, I’m teaching a course on the Environment of Central New England in a spring semester that began in the winter chills of January. I’ve covered a number of topics this semester that were more winter-oriented, including a field trip to scout animal tracks in the snow, but I’ve been waiting with great anticipation for the first of the spring ephemerals to lift their blossoms above the carpet of decomposing leaves throughout our forests. I guess I’ve never really paid much attention to phenology in the past but now I’ll be tracking the arrival of every bud so I can better plan my semester! With this being the last week of classes the wildflowers have finally arrived! Hopefully, some of the class will venture out on their own and discover the short-lived beauty of the spring ephemerals. These flowers get their bloom on early, to take advantage of the sun’s energy while they can, before the trees towering above them get their annual leaves and block the sun’s rays from reaching the canopy floor. I’ll post more images soon!