May is underway, and it is truly one of the most beautiful seasons on the South Coast. Here at Westport Woods, plants and trees seem to be transforming by the minute, as they bloom and leaf out thanks to Spring’s mix of soft rain, sunshine, and warmer nights.
Investigate the changes of the season
Right outside the windows of the Learning Center at Kirby House, the perennials in the pollinator garden are pushing up, preparing for a growing season that will extend well into autumn. These plants were chosen for the variety of visual appeal they offer people…and their roles as both nursery and café for insects, birds, small mammals, and reptiles.
The plants in our gardens have labels, so that you can better remember when you spot them in the wild or in your backyard.
The forests and wetlands beyond are also beckoning with the changes of spring! Even as our carefully cultivated Linden trees along the laneways provide a beautiful symmetry to the front of our campus, the crabapples and redbuds are presenting their most vibrant reds and pinks to visitors. Just beyond the tree line, plants like Jack-in-the-Pulpit are springing out from their seasonally wet habitats, soon to be followed by other flowering woodland plants: Lady’s Slipper, Columbine, Toothworts, Bellworts and Violets.
Explore More (Seeds, Trees, Flowers and Funghi)
We’re taking advantage of this superlative month to host these special programs:
- Spring Blooms at Herb Hadfield (May 14)
- Nature Artists: Flower Pressing (May 24)
- Mushroom Hunting Lecture + Hike (May 28, 30)