Native Plants at the Bay House

The Bay House is surrounded by beautiful native plants from the Chesapeake Bay watershed.  At any season, there is something to enjoy.  Take a moment to soak in the beauty of the natural environment and hunt for some of these local beauties.

Springtime Blooms

Eastern Spring Beauty (Claytonia Virginca) - Blooms in early spring (this picture was taken in April).  This beautiful  harbinger of spring is able to grow in a shady woodland environment.  These white and pink petals carpet the ground for several weeks in the early spring.

Wild Marsh violet (Viola cucullata) - Here is another colorful early spring flower that favors a moist, shady environment.  In a suburban grass-lawn environment, some may consider this a weed, but in a wildlife garden, these are a beautiul spring treat.  With heart-shaped leaves and blue/violet flowers, the wild violet peppers the forest floor (notice the fern frond emerging from the ground and uncurling next to the violet).

Yellow Harlequin (Corydalis flavula) -  Also known as Yellow Fumewart or Yellow Corydalis, this spring treat is rare to find in Cecil County and a threatened species in some parts of the country.  Flowering in early to late spring, these delicate yellow flowers are an annual.

Paw Paw Flower(Astrimina triloba) 

 

Venus's Looking Glass(Specularia perfoliata)

Fruits of the Summer

American Holly (Ilex opaca Aiton)

Paw Paw (Astrimina triloba) - A taste of Maryland's tropical fruit can only be found under a forest canopy.  A fruiting Paw Paw tree is a rare sight, indeed, but this bay house is surrounded by Paw Paw trees.  You can begin seeing the edible fruit in August, but it won't be ripe until mid- to late-September.  If you can get to it before the wildlife, try a taste of this Maryland tradition.

Where you see Paw Paws, you are also likely to see Zebra Swallowtail butterflies because the caterpillars solely feed on the Paw Paw leaves.

Ferns - There are several varieties of ferns to cover the forest floor.  Here is a trio of ferns that are native to the park.  Christmas Fern, Sensitive Fern, and a Hayscented Fern.