Spring

In Spring, the Garden is emerging from winter dormancy and entering the first of two blooming periods in the Great Basin Desert. The melting snow creates moist soil that is needed for seeds to germinate and perennial plants to re-grow. Daytime temperatures are warming, but freezing nighttime temperatures  are not uncommon. Along with water and warming temperatures, increasing day length is also a cue needed by many living organisms to re-emerge from winter, such as insects, fungi, mammals, birds, and reptiles.

PLANTS

Many seeds require longer daylight and increasing temperatures to break dormancy. Having spent between 5-10 months in the soil, the seed coats are weathered which facilitates the germination process. I nearly spring, the germinating plants appear as a carpet of green, having only their cotyledons (embryonic leaves) or first set of true leaves. At this time, it can be very difficult to identify species. As spring progresses, the highest diversity of flowers fills the landscape. Some of these plants have short flowering periods, while others will continue to flower throughout summer.

Life thrives on the plants. Herbivores forage on the newly-grown leaves and stems, which are tender, nutritious, and hydrating. Insects forage on the pollen, which also benefits the plant through being pollinated. Many insects and other arthropods also rely on plants as shelters or places to forage for other food, such as spider webs that trap insects. The presence of insects near pollinating plants also attracts insect pollinators, such as lizards.

The most common species to grow and flower in spring include:

INSECTS

Spring is a time when flowers bloom, and their aromas and colors attract insects. Please pay attention to the native plants here (and non-native) while observing insects, for there is usually a correlation between them – their mutually beneficial relationship ensure plants are pollinated, and in turn, plants reward the pollinator with food sources of nectar and pollen.

A wide variety of insects live in our pollinator garden. Insects have three body segments (head, thorax, abdomen), along with 3 pairs of legs. All insects go through life stages where they metamorphose, changing from one form into another. A great example of this is the change of a caterpillar into a butterfly, such as monarch butterfiles.

Here at the Gardens, we only find land insects, which include include butterflies, moths, beetles, ants, grasshoppers, crickets, bees, flies, and more. Help us document the Garden's insect biodiversity using iNaturalist!

OTHER SPECIES

Spring is a time of emergence for most life in the Great Basin desert. This includes birds, reptiles, mammals, non-arthropod insects, and fungi.

Most animals are amidst their peak mating season, with males often being more active and defensive due to their drive to find and mate with their female counterparts. If you sit and listen, you are likely to hear the mating calls of vocal species, in addition to their normal communication sounds. 

Reptiles, especially males, are commonly seen in spring. Great Basin Fence Lizards thrive in the Garden, and appear at nearly every turn. While not commonly seen, gopher snakes will traverse the area as they are searching for mates or food.

Birds are likely to be more gregarious and defensive of their territories, as they prepare nesting sites. You are likely to be warned through their menacing calls or even a dive bomb if you approach too closely. Search along the ground for California and Mountain Quail who forage on tender vegetation.

Mammals are emerging from dormancy, often hungry and tenacious in their search of mates. California Ground Squirrels

Fungi are more prominent in spring, where their fruiting bodies prefer moist areas where there is a lot of organic debris, such as decaying plants. Fungi live mostly hidden from view, with their hyphae forming delicate white networks below the surface. Above-ground, we see the fruiting body which is what we commonly refer to as the mushroom. This fruiting body is formed when the fungi experience a shift in their environment, such as recent rain or warming temperatures. The purpose is for the fungi to create spores in optimal conditions, so that their species can disperse across the landscape.