In the spring, wildflowers start coming out all over Pennsylvania. They pop up in fields, on roadsides, and in forests across Pennsylvania. The pink, white, or deep blue flowers of the sharp-lobed hepatica are some of the earliest to bloom.
Others are the early buttercup with its small yellow flowers and the bloodroot with its white-petaled flowers. The yellow trout lily is another common spring wildflower found in wooded areas with moist soil. Other species include trilliums, woodland anemones, and Virginia bluebells. Spring is a time to get out and enjoy the wildflowers at the following spots.
Fairmount Park, Philadelphia
Fairmont Park in Philadelphia covers 2,000 acres along both sides of the Schuylkill River. Thousands of cherry trees scattered throughout the park start to bloom in spring. You can see the best displays along the river at places like the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Shofuso Japanese Garden.
Taking in the wonderful displays will get you into the spring spirit. You can also play some online spring-themed casino games at betparx.com. It is the online arm of Parx Casino, the largest and most impressive casino in Pennsylvania.
Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve
This 134-acre preserve in New Hope is one of the best places to see Pennsylvania’s native plants in their natural habitat. It has more than 700 native plant species. With 4.5 miles of nature trails, you can explore diverse habitats like meadows and woodlands. In the spring, you will see a carpet of spring flowers covering the forest floors. As spring progresses, flowering trees, vines, and shrubs are also on display.
Shenks Ferry Wildflower Preserve
This 90-acre preserve is located in Conestoga along the Susquehanna River. This property is managed by the Lancaster County Conservancy. March through June is the best time to see over 100 varieties of flowers coming into bloom. The perfume-like smell of flowers will tantalize your senses. You will see trilliums, columbines, geraniums, bluebells, and more. The one-mile Wildflower Trail runs along Grubb Creek. The embankments are covered in a blaze of colors.
Morris Arboretum & Gardens
Morris Arboretum & Gardens of the University of Pennsylvania is a historic public garden and educational institution. Located in Philadelphia, this official arboretum covers 92 acres of gardens, meadows, and woodlands. The urban oasis is a living laboratory for research.
More than 12,000 plants of over 2,500 types make up the living collection. In the spring, visitors can enjoy displays of cherry blossoms, azaleas, and magnolias. There are over 45 different types of cherries and over 100 types of magnolias. Spring wildflowers bloom in the early spring, adding color to the landscape. You can join a “Walking with the Seasons” class, which explores hidden areas and celebrates the arrival of spring.
Wolf Creek Narrows
This is a hiking area near Slippery Rock in Butler County. It is beautiful at any time of the year with its active floodplain, mature hardwood forest, and scenic. In the spring, it comes alive with an abundant variety of wildflowers.
You will see white trilliums, Virginia bluebells, and many other varieties. There’s a moderately difficult 1.5-mile hike that leads upstream over level terrain and then climbs steeply along the eastern flank of the gorge. You will go through a deciduous forest before descending back to Wolf Creek.
Longwood Gardens
Longwood Gardens in Chester County spans over 1,100 acres and has some amazing landscaped spaces and indoor gardens. This can give you ideas on how to develop a home garden. It also has a large 86-acre wildflower meadow. In spring, this huge meadow comes alive with flowers of many colors, offering visitors a breathtaking experience.
Raccoon Creek Wildflower Reserve
This is a 314-acre wildflower preserve in Raccoon Creek State Park. It has more than 700 varieties of Pennsylvania wildflowers. The spring wildflower bloom is often at its best during the last two weeks of April. You will see great displays of white and red trilliums, bluebells, and flowers of other colors, shapes, and sizes. The trails in the park are a decent size and well-maintained. You can usually find one of the best concentrations of wildflowers along the Jennings Trail.