Virginia bluebells
It’s spring in the Mid-Atlantic!
Spring prompts many memories for me. I first committed to environmental causes 48 (!) years ago when I discovered the glories of spring in the woods owned by the Institute for Advanced Studies in Princeton, NJ. I would rise at 5 AM or earlier to greet the sunrise in the woods. There were wonderful birds, deer, even weasels … and carpets of spring ephemerals. The floodplain was covered by spring beauties, violets of every hue, trout lilies, occasional toothwarts … for reasons no one has never been able to explain, very few bluebells (other floodplains I have visited in the Mid-Atlantic — e.g., Brandywine & Bull Run — have lots of bluebells). Within weeks, there were mayapples and some trilliums and even some pink ladyslippers.
trout lilies & spring beauty(My studies at Princeton had nothing to do with nature or conservation … )
Yesterday I visited a floodplain near my home in Northern Virginia (Accotink Creek downstream from the dam; Fairfax County). I found those same wildflowers – but they are struggling to find space under a tsunami of invasive herbaceous plants – especially European buttercup and Leucojum. (Garlic mustard is much less common – I think volunteers might be pulling it.)
European buttercups
Leucojum 
The shrub layer is dominated by multiflora rose, honeysuckles (shrub & vine), and privet .
Makes me sad … makes me mad! Let’s redouble our efforts.
What is invading your favorite bottomland hardwood forest? Send me your comments!
Faith
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