They surprise me every spring—mostly because they disappear without a trace by June and I forget about them until they emerge the following year. I’m talking about the Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) that thrive on the shady east side of our house.
Dutchman’s Breeches are spring ephemerals. That means they emerge, bloom and set seed over a very short period of time. These native woodland plants need moist soil and dappled shade. In the spring, melting snow and April showers give them the moisture they need. And the sun is able to reach them because the trees have not yet leafed out.
My brother-in-law shared some Dutchman’s Breeches with me about ten years ago, and they’re still thriving. The plants are named for the little white flowers that look like britches drying on a clothesline.
Another ephemeral that I’m smitten with is trilliums. Last spring on a birdwatching adventure, my friend and I were on a hiking path and came upon a forest floor overflowing with trilliums. It was a stunning sight.
I didn’t think to take any photos (I was in bird mode!) until we returned two weeks later. By then most of the flowers were already withering. A month later there was no sign of them at all.
