ERIN NEGLEY | Staff WriterLancaster County wildflowers have reached peak bloom.
Plants are emerging a bit early this year, similar to last year's schedule, says Keith Williams, community engagement coordinator with Lancaster County Conservancy. Long-term, that's potentially a problem, especially if the flowers are gone by the time pollinators show up on schedule.
Short-term, the flowers often bring crowds to parks and preserves.
Here’s more about what’s blooming and what’s coming up at parks, preserves and gardens in the region as of April 12 (with report dates noted below).
READ: Make a resurrection garden, take a spring wildflower walk: 94 things for plant lovers to do in March
Lancaster Conservancy preserves (updated April 25)
- Wildflowers are still blooming at Lancaster Conservancy's riverlands preserves, including Kelly's Run Nature Preserve, Clark Nature Preserve, Climbers Run Nature Center, Turkey Hill Nature Preserve, Ferncliff Wildlife and Wildflower Preserve and Shenks Ferry Wildflower Preserve.
- In bloom are phlox, red columbine, wild geranium, golden ragwort, violets, sweet cicely and lingering trillium.
- Next up are false Solomon’s seal and mayapple.
- People and pets should stay on trails to avoid damaging plants, Williams says.
- The conservancy's preserves on the other side of the county, including Welsh Mountain Nature Preserve will have blooming orchids and flowering shrubs in early May.
- The new Wizard Ranch Nature Preserve in Hellam Township, York County, also has spring flowers in bloom.
A guide to 9 Lancaster County spring wildflowers [photos]
Here are some of the wildflowers you’ll find throughout Lancaster County in the spring.
Bloodroot is one of the first wildflowers to bloom in Lancaster County. The roots of bloodroot are red-orange and have been used as a dye for baskets and clothing.
Lancaster County Central Park (updated April 17)
- Along the Wildflower Trail are flowers in bloom such as spring beauties, cutleaf toothwort, Dutchman's breeches, trillium, trout lily, Virginia bluebells and saxifrage. Next up are mayapples, phlox and Solomon's seal.
- Also in bloom are plants like bittercress, trailing arbutus, veronica, ground ivy, henbit, purple deadnettle, chickweed and dandelions. Some may consider these weeds but they feed early pollinators, says senior naturalist Lisa Sanchez. Blooming violets are colorful and edible, she adds.
READ: A look at the 2024 Philadelphia Flower Show, plus 5 things not to miss
Hershey Gardens (updated April 11)
- Tulips
- Magnolia trees
- Virginia bluebells
- Daffodils
- Lenten roses
- Siberian squill
- Serviceberry tree
- Crabapple trees
- PJM Rhododendron
Tulips nearing peak bloom at Hershey Gardens [photos]
Hershey Gardens’ 27,000 tulips are expected to reach peak bloom this week.
This year’s tulips are growing in a new spot: the square beds next to the historic rose garden. Alyssa Hagarman, manager of horticulture and tulip designer at Hershey Gardens, says the flowers rotate between the neighboring fan beds and the square beds every three years to prevent disease.
Visitors this season will find tulips blooming in large blocks of contrasting colors, including red with white, purple with orange and pink with yellow. Standout varieties include Kunyun, Alibi, Purple Dream and Bombastic Red.
Depending on the weather, the blooms are expected to last for a few weeks.
Hershey Gardens is located at 170 Hotel Road in Hershey. For more information, visit hersheygardens.org.
To read more about tulips in bloom at Hershey Gardens and Longwood Gardens, visit lanc.news/tulips24.
The Hershey Gardens features a wide array of tulips in Hershey, Monday April 15, 2024.
The Hershey Gardens features a wide array of tulips in Hershey, Monday April 15, 2024.
The Hershey Gardens features a wide array of tulips in Hershey, Monday April 15, 2024.
The Hershey Gardens features a wide array of tulips in Hershey, Monday April 15, 2024.
The Hershey Gardens features a wide array of tulips as Kristie Sheleman, of Harrisburg, browse around with her children, Mason Sheleman, 10 mo…
The Hershey Gardens features a wide array of tulips as Ellen Coates, of Pike Township, takes a picture of her daughter, Clara Jane Coates, 1, …
The Hershey Gardens features a wide array of tulips in Hershey, Monday April 15, 2024.
The Hershey Gardens features a wide array of tulips in Hershey, Monday April 15, 2024.
The Hershey Gardens features a wide array of tulips as Ellen Coates, of Pike Township, takes a picture of her daughters, Bobbi Jo Coates, 3, a…
The Hershey Gardens features a wide array of tulips in Hershey, Monday April 15, 2024.
The Hershey Gardens features a wide array of tulips in Hershey, Monday April 15, 2024.
The Hershey Gardens features a wide array of tulips in Hershey, Monday April 15, 2024.
The Hershey Gardens features a wide array of tulips in Hershey, Monday April 15, 2024.
The Hershey Gardens features a wide array of tulips in Hershey, Monday April 15, 2024.
The Hershey Gardens features a wide array of tulips in Hershey, Monday April 15, 2024.
The Hershey Gardens features a wide array of tulips in Hershey, Monday April 15, 2024.
![Hershey Gardens Tulips 2024 [video]](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/lancasteronline.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/f8/af871800-45d2-5d0a-bd45-dac8b91a331b/661de2b1396ea.image.jpg?resize=1920%2C1080)
Longwood Gardens (outdoors, updated April 10)
- Magnolia
- Daffodils
- Sharp-lobe hepatica
- Tower-of-jewels
- Fritillary
- Tulips
- Hyacinth
- Virginia spring beauty
- Lilac
- Compact Korean spice viburnum
- Wood spurge
- Virginia bluebells
- Redbud
- Japanese flowering cherry
- Showy trilium
- Trout lily
- Summer snowflake
- Nearing hybrid rhododendron
- Woods tulip
- Darwin hybrid tulip
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