The change in daylight hours is driven by the orientation of the earth in relation to the sun. The changes in the plant community on the forest floor, while ultimately due to this relationship, are shaped by more local factors. April began with an almost barren canopy except for evergreens. Someone fair-skinned such as myself had no refuge from the sun in the middle of a hot, cloudless day. Today the forest rivals autumn leaf shows for beauty. New growth, especially in the understory, gives the forest a green blush. Yellow and white flowers remain along with more showy flowering trees in peoples' yards. The deep red flowers of red maples have become orange clusters of winged fruit. Willows drape long yellow locks over the pond at work, betraying green roots as the leaves come in.

This is the timeline which spring flowers are constrained by - the return of the summer canopy. They need enough warmth and sun to grow flowers and attract pollinators (although some species have ways around the latter problem). But if they flower too long and the trees cast them into shade, they won't have enough energy to produce fruit. Many spring flowers respond by being ephemeral, which is a poetic way to say short-lived. They grace the forest floor with a burst of beauty before melting away.