They say “April showers bring May flowers,” but in the south March showers bring April flowers. Lots of them.

This lovely bellwort was on Mt. Nebo in Arkansas, a few hours north of where I live but still southern enough to have lots of flowers for the annual spring meeting of the Arkansas Native Plant Society.

Bellwort is very ephemeral and not the most common wildflower. It grows in Louisiana, but I have never seen one here. We saw several patches on the day we climbed Mt. Nebo near Dardanelle. I was quite taken with their delicate beauty.

I joined ANPS a number of years ago and have greatly enjoyed attending fall and spring meetings, which are full of good information and fun field trips with fellow plant nerds. In 2018, I could not get away for the fall meeting, so I’m extra grateful I went to the spring meeting.