Apr 16 2025
Hepatica Day
The day before yesterday, I went for a short hike around Niquette Bay State Park. With temps in the 50s and the sun shining brightly, it was a good day to be in the woods. I wasn’t alone. The parking lot was nearly full, and I passed about 20 people during my 3-mile jaunt. Usually I don’t care for crowds, but on a day like this in early spring, who cares about such things?
I had hoped to see some wildflowers. I wasn’t disappointed. Not more than five minutes into my hike, I spotted a patch of round-lobed hepatica in bloom. Then I saw another patch of them, then another. Every time I looked down, in fact, I saw yet another patch – all the way around the park. I also saw a solitary bloodroot in bloom, but it became quite clear to me that it was Hepatica Day. And rightly so, since hepatica is usually the first wildflower to bloom in these northern woods.
While it may be a few more days before spring beauty flowers – their scent giving me an instant case of spring fever – the mere sight of hepatica breaking through the bleached brown forest duff exhilarates me. Soon the landscape will be awash in dazzling green vegetation.
A woodpecker knocked loudly as I raced along, dancing around the roots and rocks on the trail. I moved fast enough to break a sweat, even though I could have avoided that in the cool forest air. Peepers peeped from a wetland spilling into Lake Champlain. Moss and overwintering ferns hinted at the vernal explosion soon come. Snowmelt rushed through the ravine. And suddenly it felt like all is right with the world.
Today’s a different story with a light snowfall dusting the ground here at home. No matter. Migrating birds are joining goldfinches at the feeders. The green thumbs of irises and lilies are pushing up through the mulch. And Chippy, my chipmunk companion, has awakened from his long winter slumber. This snow won’t last. Despite the fluctuations in temperature this time of year, the growing season is well underway. I look forward to getting out there and enjoying it again soon, very soon.
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