I was up hiking in the White Mountains this past weekend with a friend. It was raining and we were admiring just how green it was (while trying to ignore the mud we were slogging through). My hiking ...

Spring may start on a different day depending on whom you ask. A meteorologist may say March 1, while an astronomer may say March 20. But what if you ask … the plants? Unfortunately, they won’t reply ...

Once there’s even a hint of spring in the air, such as longer days with more sunshine or the plaintive song of the black-capped chickadee, it’s time to look for ephemeral wildflowers. In fact, by now ...

Trout Lily and Spring Beauty are two ephemeral wildflowers that bloom in early spring before trees leaf out. They rely on insects and other wildlife for pollination and seed dispersal. Gardeners can ...

The recent boom in native-plant interest focuses mainly on trees, shrubs, grasses, and perennial flowers – by far the main workhorse plants of Pennsylvania landscapes. But even with the diversity ...

Ms. Renkl is a contributing Opinion writer who covers flora, fauna, politics and culture in the American South. I spied the first spring beauty of the year on Feb. 20, the same week a Northern flicker ...