The Fleeting Beauty of Spring Ephemerals

Some of the first flowers at Historic London Town and Gardens.

Ephemeral. Transitory. Short-lived. Fleeting. These words call to mind a puff of smoke lingering in the air before being carried away by a gentle breeze. For the gardeners among us, however, it refers to something entirely different -- the first breath of life in the garden, woken by the warming of the soil, gentle leaves followed by fleeting, but much lauded after early spring flowers. 

The term “spring ephemeral” refers to the first flowers to emerge in the late winter to early spring. Generally, these are fall-planted bulbs that go in the ground dormant, establish a root system during the freezing temperatures, and then emerge as the temperatures begin to warm. 

Among the most common of the spring ephemerals are crocus (some of the earliest blooming bulbs in our area), daffodils and tulips. These can be divided based on how late into the spring they bloom, allowing for quite a bit of flexibility and lasting color in a spring garden, especially for plants called ephemerals. 

Historic London Town and Gardens showcases a large variety of spring-blooming ephemeral bulbs spread through our 10 acres of gardens. As the woody shrubs and trees are just beginning to leaf and flower, the gardens are covered in nodding daffodils, delicate crocus and squill, and the occasional swaying tulip. We hope you’ll come by and catch these fleeting blooms! 

Join us for our exclusive Members-Only Garden Tours, held monthly at Historic London Town and Gardens, where we explore unique highlights of our horticulture collection. Not a member yet? Become one today and don’t miss out on these special behind-the-scenes experiences!

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