Seasonal Spotlight
Species Highlights - Spring 2026
I am not sure if anyone out there feels the same as I do, but this winter has been a long one! As we all know Canadian winters can fluctuate in intensity each year, especially in Southern Ontario. In recent years, our winters have been fairly mild. We would receive a few blasts of colder winter temperatures and seasonal snowfall, but it would warm up the next day and the snow would quickly disappear. This winter however has been unlike those of recent years. Colder temperatures, intense snowfall, and long lasting ice patches have made for a more appropriate seasonal experience.
As we quickly approach the long anticipated spring season we look forward to the return of longer days, warmer weather and brighter colours!
Springtime is the period of new life for everything in the environment. Seasonal plants grow up and migration is in full swing. At Ruthven Park, the spring is one of our favourite times of the year! It marks the return of Spring Ephemerals. These plants are the first to show up along the forest floor before the eventual leaf out of the trees later in the season.
During your visit to Ruthven Park this spring pay close attention for some of these Spring Ephemeral plants!
Bloodroot - Sanguinaria canadensi
Bloodroot is one of the earliest and most unique looking plants to come up in the springtime. It’s characteristic white flowers and heart shaped leaves make it stand out among the other plants on the forest floor. Their name comes from the juice inside the roots. When damaged they shine a bright red colour similar to that of blood.
Spring ephemerals like Bloodroot come out early in the spring time to take advantage of the early sunlight before the leaf out of the trees later in the season. They often bloom for a short period of time for that reason and are just as quickly out of bloom as they are in.
Spring Beauty - Claytonia virginica
Yet another spring favourite are the small flowers that are appropriately known as Spring Beauties. These are another spring ephemeral that indicate the start of spring.
With their striking pink, purple and white colouring these flowers stretch across the forest floor blanketing the ground with their beauty.
Like many other native Ontario plant species these flowers are especially vulnerable to invasive species and land development.
White Trillium - Trillium grandiflorum
Likely the most recognized spring ephemeral in Ontario, the White Trillium is one of the most striking plants to cover the forest floor.
As the provincial flower for Ontario, the White Trillium has become synonymous with springtime. This plant is very easily recognized due to it’s striking white petals and whorled leaves that both come in a set of three. The three is important as it is stated directly in the name Trillium with “tri” meaning three in Latin and Greek (Manorome, 2025, Ontario Parks).
There are over 50 species of Trillium, with 5 native to Ontario, including one species at risk, the Drooping Trillium.
Species of the Spring
Chickweed Geometer Moth (Haematopis grataria)
Article written by Jessica Harriott (Ruthven Park Volunteer)
No, you’re not standing in front of an ice cream truck on a hot summer day, ordering a sweet dairy alternative. You’re actually looking at one of many native Ontario moth species. This mango strawberry sherbet-coloured moth is the Chickweed Geometer Moth (Haematopis grataria). This moth is the only type in its genus and is found throughout North America. In Canada, the species ranges from Quebec to Alberta and can be found flying throughout the day from May to October.
In its adult stage, this moth’s wing span reaches 20 - 25mm, sporting its pale yellow colour paired with two reddish pink bands. Each forewing has a similarly coloured, reddish pink spot in the centre. Male chickweed geometers have feathered antennae, while females have thinner, thread-like antennae.
You can find this distinct character of an insect feeding and ovipositing on various low-growing plants, such as chickweed, smartweed, stitchwort, and starwort, which can easily be mistaken for small daisy-like flowers. When ovipositing (laying eggs), they deposit oval-shaped, camouflaged eggs on the leaf surfaces of the previously mentioned plants. Eggs hatch in seven days, and the larva stage lasts approximately one month and pupates in a thin cocoon for two weeks. This moth produces more than one generation per year. The last generation of these moths, each year, tends to overwinter as a pupa.
Even their larval stages are quite something to see. Geometers (“earth measurers”) are aptly named, as their larvae are known as “inchworms” which move by humping their back into a loop, bringing their rear set of legs up to the front set to make “steps”. The caterpillars are slender but possess a thickened and rough first abdominal segment. They vary in colour from green with white stripes to checkered and mottled with colours including brown, tan, and red.
Much like seeing the first signs of spring, these moths represent the joys of transformation, positive change, and light-filled metamorphosis. Their presence overturns the usual, shadowy, hidden interpretations of moths in media and stories. They come with a message of lightness, cheerfulness, and wisdom that doesn’t need to be hidden in shadows. Seeing one of these beautiful moths can be considered a good omen.
Next time you visit Ruthven Park, keep an eye out for the small flowering plants, and maybe you can also get a glimpse of this colourful omen of a species! Just be careful where you step!
Additional Spring Highlights
