Here along the southern coast of Lake Michigan spring has begun. The first blooms of the season are typically found on the Heron Rookery and Bailly Calumet trails, both of which run alongside the Little Calumet river. These trails tend to be quite muddy this time of year, expect to have to go through stretches where the mud and water are over the toe of your footwear. I recommend ankle high, waterproof boots.

My most recent visit to the Heron Rookery trail yielded the first of the spring ephemerals of the season.

This time of year I like to hit this trail every couple weeks because it changes so much so fast. On this day I caught the very beginning. I am looking forward to returning soon.