Iowa Wildflower Week 2013

Wildflower Week is declared by the Iowa Native Plant Society this week.

Ft. Des Moines Park last year

I love this time of year. Watching the plants progress from short leaves, to taller leaves with flower stalks, to flowers, and then dying back is something that I love. It reminds me of spring walks with my grandmother,.

I wrote about expanding your backyard a while ago. Since that time, more Wildflower Hikes and related events have been added. Our cold spring has delayed ephemeral bloom. We found trout lily last weekend, a short ways from a creek, but there were only two. I'm sure more have poked out of the ground since that time with the warm up we've had.

Ft. Des Moines Park

I thought I'd expand the events to an hour or less from the metro area. A guided walk can be a great activity for people who need a 'bridge' to cross into the ephemeral, wildflower-loving world.

• April 30 - 6:30pm - Thomas Mitchell Park, Polk County, Mitchellville, Wildflower Hike, meet at McDonald's parking lot in Pleasant Hill, Central Iowa Sierra Group, contact: Jackie, 515-577-0375
• May 1 - 6:00pm - Easter Lake Park, Polk County, Des Moines; May Day Hike and then making a May Day basket to take home, Polk County Conservation Board, 515-323-5300
• May 18 - 9:00am to noon - Native Iowa Plant Sale, Annett Nature Center and Park, Warren County, sponsored by Friends of Warren County; contact: Joel at 515-961-6169 ext. 204
• May 19 – noon to 4:00pm - Native Iowa Plant Sale, Annett Nature Center and Park, Warren County, sponsored by Friends of Warren County; contact: Joel at 515-961-6169 ext. 204
• May 23 - 7:00pm - Doolittle Prairie State Preserve, Story County, near Story City, Prairie Walk; contact: Lloyd Crim at (515) 432-5026 or lloydcrim@gmail.com

Check the INPS website for the numerous events held outside of the Des Moines area.

A sea of may apples at Ft. Des Moines last year