Gearing Up for Spring Ephemeral Season - Part 2

Wild Lupine

In Part 1 of this two part series, I shared some of my very favorite spring ephemeral hikes. 

Now it's time to dig a little deeper into gear and strategies to stay tick-free, to make sure you don't carry invasives seeds in or out of hiking areas as you wander as well as what ephemerals to look for the season progresses. 

Insect Protection
Once temps hit the 40's, ticks become active. So now is definitely the time to protect yourself, especially if you do off-trail hiking through any kind of grass or brush. And, of course, gnats, chiggers, biting flies and mosquitoes are in our hiking future as well. Here are a few suggestions to use to minimize your exposure to insect - and especially tick - bites:

• Wear light colored clothing (easier to find ticks on them)

• Tuck pants into socks

• Spray boots and pants legs with a Picaridin or DEET-containing insect repellent

• After hikes, toss your hiking clothes into the dryer on high for a 10 minute spin (it kills the little beasties)

• Check your body carefully for any tick action post-hike

• Shower/wash hair (usually it takes from 24-36 hours after a tick attaches. A good scrub helps to dislodge them)

• Consider spraying a set of "hiking clothes" with Permethrin Spray

• If you do a lot of off-trailing like me, consider investing in a set of Rynoskin protection underclothes (shirt, pants, socks) or Premethrin -infused InsectShield gaiters. I own both a short and tall pair of gaiters depending on how high the grasses/brush are. They are rugged and not particularly hot.

• If biting bugs like flies, gnats and mosquitoes love your face and head, consider buying a head net. The newer versions aren't too annoying or hot.

Invasives

Boot brush

You will see any number of invasives in the woods during your spring hikes. If there is a boot brush at the trailhead, be sure to use it to avoid carrying seeds in and out. 

You can also stop the spread of invasives by taking a few minutes at the end of each hike to use a hoof pick to clean out dirt and seeds from the bottom of your boots. One end has a sturdy metal pick that can clean out the lugs on your sole. On the other side of that is a set of stiff bristles that brush the rest of the dirt and seeds away. You can find these online for under $4 each. Mine are still going strong after three years.

Ephemerals to Look for

The following broad list is a suggestion of months and ephemerals you may find. Mother Nature has her own rhythm. If spring is early or late, it will effect how soon you will see your first of any wildflower variety. Have fun!

March

Pasque flowers
Skunk cabbage

Spring Beauty

April
Birdsfoot violet

Bloodroot
Bristly buttercup
Common violet
Dutchman’s breeches
False rue anemone
Garlic mustard (invasive) - For control measures, stop here for WI DNR recomendations; for control measures in MN, stop here for MN DNR recommendations
Hepatica
Mayapple
Rue anemone
Spring beauty
Ramps
Wild ginger

Fringed Puccoon

May
Bastard toadflax
Bluebell
Bellwort
Columbine
Cutleaf toothwort
Downy yellow violet
False Solomon’s seal
Fiddleheads, emerging
Fringed puccoon
Hoary Puccoon
Indian paintbrush
Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Littleleaf buttercup
Jacob’s ladder
Marsh marigold
Miterwort
Prairie blue-eyed grass
Prairie ragwort
Pussytoes
Shooting star
Showy Orchis
Tall meadow rue
Tall thimbleweed
Trillium
Trout lily
Two leaf miterwort
Wild geranium
Yellow star-grass

Leonard's Skullcap

June
Blue-bead lily
Hoary verbena
Leafy verbena

Leonard's Skullcap
Mountain death camus
Pale spike lobelia
Wild lupine

This two post series is based on a talk I gave to the La Crosse area Natural Arts Garden Club on March 25, 2025. A big thanks go out to them for the invite and the delightful evening spent sharing this information.

• Gearing Up for Spring - Part 1

Images, unless noted - Marge Loch-Wouters