Roy and Charlotte Lukes at Crossroads at Big Creek “Spring Wildflowers of Door County” plus Rain Barrels

Posted on 02. Apr, 2010 by in Nature

April Showers bring May flowers, but at Crossroads at Big Creek, those May flowers will be in their full glory on Tuesday, April 13, at 7 pm when the Master Gardeners bring Roy and Charlotte Lukes to present the illustrated lecture “Spring Flowers of Door County.”

In a forest, most wildflowers bloom before the tree leaves open. And they can’t even start to grow until the snow has melted and the soil becomes warm. If wildflowers bloom too early, pollen-carrying insects (which are cold-blooded) will be too chilly to fly. So timing is everything.

This year, plants got a head start, but even so, they have a very brief window of opportunity to grow, produce a spring flower, be pollinated and set seed before the tree canopy places them under perpetual shade.

Also this past winter, we had remarkably little snow, so our wildflowers will have to depend on April showers for the moisture required for growth.

In contrast, the plants in the Crossroads Greenhouse get plenty of water, thanks to the members of the Sturgeon  Bay Home and Garden Club, who are starting and tending vegetables and flowers starts for our Heritage Garden.

“Spring Wildflowers of Door County”

If you have ever wondered about the glorious wildflowers you see every spring blossoming throughout the county, this program is for you. Well-known naturalists and authors Roy and Charlotte Lukes will present the program. You will find out how to identify wildflowers that bloom here from April through June.  You will see Roy’s beautiful photographs of them and learn about the habitat in which particular wildflowers grow and prosper.

The Lukes’ presentations are annual favorites of Door County’s naturalists and gardeners, so plan to arrive early and to enjoy an entertaining and fact-filled evening dedicated to Door’s earliest wildflowers.

People who have grass, young trees or gardens will be pleased to hear that once again, Crossroads is collaborating with Sustain Door to sell rain barrels. With these fully assembled 55-gallon plastic barrels, you can collect  the water from  April, May and June showers to  water yards and gardens during the drier times of summer. The $65  barrels will be on sale  at the Collins Learning Center from 2 to 5 pm daily.

Crossroads at Big Creek is located at 2041 Michigan (across from Whitetails Unlimited) in Sturgeon Bay. The Collins Learning Center is open 2:00-5:00 daily.Visit our website at www.CrossroadsatBigCreek.org. or call 746-5895.

Tuesday, April 13, 7:00
Master Gardener Lecture: “Spring Flowers of Door County.”

Roy and Charlotte Lukes wil introduce you to the glorious wildflowers of spring. You will learn about habitats in which  wildflower will grow and prosper as you enjoy Roy’s stunning photographs. Free and open to the public.

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