Spring Ephemerals at Niagara Escarpment Preserve

Location: Niagara Escarpment Preserve

Date: Friday, May 2

Time: 3:00pm-5:00pm

​

Each spring, a vibrant display of ephemeral wildflowers blankets the forest floor at our Niagara Escarpment Preserve. These early bloomers, including trilliums, cut-leaved toothwort, squirrel corn, and many others produce some of the most striking flowers of our native flora. They emerge quickly to take advantage of the abundant sunlight before the tree canopy leafs out. What makes this hike truly special is the preserve’s location on the Niagara Escarpment, a unique geological formation that creates distinctive growing conditions. The escarpment’s rich, calcium-laden soils and cool, shaded microclimates support a remarkable diversity of plant life, including rare and regionally significant species.