April marks an awakening of forests in Northeastern Pennsylvania, and signs of spring are slowly beginning to make themselves known. The lively music of migrating warblers, the splash of mud from some skittish frogs, and the soft green of budding trees, all accented by pops of color from native wildflowers decorating the trail. From the delicate Trillium to the iconic Mountain Laurel, these seasonal blooms provide hikers with a colorful reward for hitting the trails in spring.

Spectacular Starflower

One of the first wildflowers to bloom in spring, the starflower, lives up to its name. Its delicate, white, star-shaped petals are reminiscent of the night sky redesigned for the forest floor. This small plant thrives in heavily forested areas and is particularly abundant in Pinchot State Forest. To see it, keep a close eye on the forest floor, as the flower is subtle and easy to miss in the shaded understory!

Delicate Trillium

Among the most recognizable spring wildflowers is trillium. These three-petaled flowers have white and red varieties that carpet the forest floor in early spring. Seven Tubs Recreation Area in Wilkes-Barre is a great place to spot them, particularly along the wooded trails where the moisture from flowing creeks creates the perfect habitat. Since trillium takes a long time to mature and can be damaged easily, it’s important to follow Leave No Trace principles. As lovely as they are, please admire them without picking or stepping on them, or you may not see them again for years to come.

The rare Pink Lady Slipper

One of the most interesting wild orchids in NEPA, the pink lady’s slipper is a rare and exciting find. This flower, resembling a pink slipper, prefers acidic soil, which can be found throughout NEPA’s coal region. While sightings are not guaranteed, careful observers may spot them beneath the blueberry bushes at the Nature Conservancy’s Dick & Nancy Eales Nature Preserve at Moosic Mountain. Like trillium, they are extremely sensitive to touch and disturbance. They rely on specific fungi in the soil to grow and can’t survive if transplanted. Keep this rare flower wild and take pictures only!

Mountain Laurel — PA State Flower

The Mountain Laurel is slow to follow many of these early Spring blooms, but Pennsylvania’s state flower is worth noting. With clusters of pink and white blossoms and strong green leaves, the Rhododendron blooms in late May to Early June. Natural Lands’ Bear Creek Preserve is a prime location to witness this spectacular display, with its expansive shaded forests. Mountain Laurel’s baby sister, sheep laurel, can also be found throughout forested areas in NEPA.

Hike responsibly

To ensure these beautiful wildflowers continue to thrive, it’s essential to practice Leave No Trace principles while hiking:

• Stay on trails to avoid trampling delicate plants and their root systems.
• Regardless of their disturbance tolerance, do not pick or disturb any wildflowers. Flowers like trillium and pink lady slipper may take years to grow back, while others do not recover easily from human impacts.
• Pack out all trash, including food waste, to keep soils healthy and leave nature as you found it.

Take time to enjoy the natural colors of NEPA

Spring is one of the most rewarding times to explore Northeastern Pennsylvania’s trails, especially when wildflower season can be quick and fleeting. Make sure to plan time to enjoy these treasures and recreate responsibly so others can enjoy them for years to come! Happy Trails!

Featured image (top) courtesy of Pennsylvania Environmental Council.