First large flowers to bloom in March 2025 in Parksville were skunk cabbage.
It’s an impressive plant found in swamps and wet woods, along streams and in other wet areas of the Pacific Northwest. A distinctive “skunky” odor is characteristic of blooms.
About the same time, Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris), also known as Kingcup start to pop up. Also near wetlands, marshes, and along streams and ponds.
Both are impressive, brightening up the trail after a long winter.
In fact, I saw tiny Daisies (Bellis perennis) even earlier. Late February.
Though pretty, we usually remove them from our lawn during the summer — along with dandelions.
Speaking of dandelions — they are among the first flowers to bloom in the spring, a crucial food source for bees as they emerge from hibernation and begin foraging. So I’ll leave the first flowers of the season alone.
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