With their sights on the sun and lengthening days, the spring ephemerals rise. Triggered by warming soil and more hours and minutes in each day, their agenda is set. Pollen, nectar, and odor are delivered with precision, such that we mortals are still trying to understand the mechanics of how, why, and when. Like a ritual that rejoices in life, the delivery of key components is survival, if not timed perfectly, the plant risks everything.
The word ephemeral has several meanings. From the Greek word ephemeros, meaning "lasting a day", gardeners consider it part of their spring vocabulary. In Virginia we have many native spring ephemerals; the most popular is probably the Virginia bluebell or Mertensia virginica.
I often think of ephemerals and their challenges. Life above ground can be incredibly fleeting, the actual process of flowering may last only three days. The goal is twofold; set seed and send energy to the subterranean root system. It's almost like a ratio of life above ground balanced by the underground storage unit; the shorter the active growth span, the larger the holding bin. So these fleeting flowers all have some form of bulbous root, maybe a tuber, possibly a true bulb, somewhere to deposit the well gained energy to see them through another year. Much like the saying "Make hay while the sun shines".
Natives like claytonia or spring beauties and bluets or houstonia are marvels. Dainty flowers are held on the thinnest of stems, almost threadlike, especially so with bluets. Wind will bob and blow the flowers, so frail in appearance, how can this be so successful?
The flowers are equipped with nectar guides and so begins the process of pollination. Nectar and pollen are balanced, higher amounts for birds and butterflies. The color of the flower lures one or the other; bees are more attracted to bright white, yellow and blue. They seek both nectar and pollen, the latter stickier and sometimes scented. Both birds and butterflies go to bright flowers; orange, red and purple are the colors they seek.
Subsequent seed is almost always coated or marked with elaisome. This gel-like substance is sometimes easy to spot, other times almost invisible. There to lure ants, they eat the elaisome, which makes them seed distributors on a large scale. It's not unusual to find spring ephemerals sprouting around the periphery of an ant hill. Here the soil is loose, all the better for a seed to sprout and grow.
As the days warm and trees come to life, the ephemerals begin to decline. Floral stems with a seed pod will wither last. Now the trees roots will be active, buried within their fibrous web, the ephemerals sleep. They have packed their suitcase for another year. Nothing will wake them but the required chilling hours, which they count as fall begins. Not nearly as fragile as they appear, gardeners are all the richer for their spring presence.
