Spring is upon us at Madison Square Park! As we begin to warm up, life begins to peak up through the soil. It is a collective sigh of relief to see color returning back to the gardens. Let’s highlight some of our early spring flowers that you might see in March in the park. Spring ephemerals refers to plants that have a very short life cycle, blooming and dying back to their bulbs all within a few weeks! Ephemerals take advantage of the abundant sunlight unimpeded by the still budding tree canopy and the mild, wet conditions of early spring as they grow, bloom, reproduce, and go dormant once again. They have a quick blooming period, make sure to keep your eyes to the ground this spring so you don’t miss them!

The first to emerge are snowdrops, or Galanthus spp., their common name deriving from the fact that they bloom even while snow may still be on the ground. They have delicate, white blossoms that only last a few weeks in the garden before they die back down to their bulbs, with the next spring’s bloom already stored and ready to go. They are mostly native to the deciduous woodlands of Europe and Western Asia, but are just as happy in our gardens here in New York City. Gardeners and pollinators alike are overjoyed to see them in the garden, officially harboring the beginnings of spring. 

Another beloved spring ephemeral is the Crocus, Crocus spp., emerging in beautiful colors of vibrant purple, white, and yellow. Just like snowdrops, they bloom for just a couple weeks before dying back to the ground. The genus name Crocus is derived from the Latin word for saffron, and saffron is produced from the autumn flowering species Crocus sativus by harvesting the bright orange pistils, the female reproductive part of the flower. While the species you may see out in the garden are not of this variety, they are just as special to watch them pop up around MSP. They naturalize beautifully in the garden and can be easily forced in pots as well, so everyone can enjoy them regardless if they have planting space or not! 

The first tree to bloom in the park is always the beautiful Japanese Apricot, Prunus mume ‘Peggy Clarke’. Small, fragrant, double, deep pink flowers light up the corner of Madison Avenue and 23rd Street and on a warm day, you can watch the pollinators flock to it! It is native to China, Japan, Taiwan, and Korea. As part of the cherry family, this tree heralds the start of cherry blossom season. The tart fruits that mature in the summer are primarily used in jams or fermented to make plum wine. This cultivar was introduced in 1941 by English ecologist W.B. Clarke, who named it after one of his daughters and features bright red calyxes, the protective outer layer of the flower, and extra long yellow stamens, the male reproductive part of the flower and primarily where pollen is produced and collected by pollinators. 

Another tree of note is the Cornelian Cherry, Cornus mas,  another very early bloomer with clusters of bright yellow flowers. The exfoliating bark of this notable dogwood tree makes it an amazing four season specimen. You can find three of these growing in Madison Square Park- two by the Playground and one in the 26th Street garden bed left of the Arthur Monument. 

Early spring is a busy time for gardeners welcoming the return of the growing season, but these spring ephemerals and beautifully blooming trees remind us to slow down and take in the fleeting beauty that they offer. Usually small and dainty flowers, and so easily missed, and yet such a welcome sight as we bid farewell to winter and look ahead to a fast approaching springtime.