Flowers and Birds: Where to Look for the First Signs of Spring in New York

This year, a groundhog named Chuck at the Staten Island Zoo predicted an early start to spring. He was wrong, because the end of February and the beginning of March were marked by snowy and cold weather in the metropolis. Nevertheless, the first signs of spring are already visible in the city. The site says where to look for them. NYC Parks.

Snowdrops

As winter ends, usually in January or early February, snow-white flowers - snowdrops - break out of the frozen ground. They are one of the earliest signs of spring. This year, snowdrops were seen in Central Park in early January and around Battery Park around mid-January. In particular, on January 22, Washington Square Park Conservancy noticed its first snowdrops. Snowdrops began to bloom in Central Park, Father Fagan's Park, and the High Line in the last week of February.

American woodcock

The American woodcock is a bird that lives primarily in the eastern region of North America. It spends most of its time on the ground, its plumage is ideal for camouflage among bushes and underbrush. This year, on February 28th, our friends at the Wild Bird Foundation announced the arrival of the woodcocks. Their peak arrival time is usually mid-March. And as spring approaches, parklands will welcome songbirds and many other feathered friends as they migrate to New York.

Delacorte watches

This musical clock is a favorite stop for kids strolling past the Central Zoo. The chimes of the March 2 clock switch to a spring playlist featuring songs such as Easter Parade and It Might As Well Be Spring.

Crocus

Crocus is one of the first to bloom in parks in New York. This year, crocuses were spotted in Van Cortlandt and Central Park in the first week of March.

Daffodils

For many New Yorkers, the daffodil bloom is a sure sign that spring is coming. This year, blooming daffodils were spotted in mid-February near 13th Street in East River Park and Morningside Park.

Eastern frostbite

Eastern hellebore is another sign that spring is just around the corner. "While this is not really a sign of spring, it is a sign that spring is coming!" - the author writes.

This flower usually blooms in the middle of winter. It is also called the "lean rose" because the flower petals usually open during the 40-day fast, which began on February 17th.

The first flowers of Oriental hellebore were seen in Central Park in the second week of March.

Red maple trees

Another sign of spring coming in the Big Apple is the tiny red buds on the branches of red maples. They usually bloom in early March. Last year, red maple buds were spotted in a pond in Central Park in late February. So look for tiny red buds on the branches. You can find a tree of this species closest to you in New York by link.

Cornelian Cherry

Cornelian cherry blossoms in tiny yellow flowers, drawing attention to itself. The flowering tree can be found at Grand Armeys Plaza in Brooklyn and Washington Square Park in Manhattan in mid-March. The Washington Square Park Conservancy reported flowering dogwood in early March.

"Snow Glory"

Chionodoxa, known as "snow glory", covers Wave Hill with lavender blue flowers. This adds to the magical feeling of walking through the garden area. Last year, the buds were first seen in the garden in mid-March, this year they are expected to appear around the same period.

Sakura

The cherry blossoms of New York are the highlight of spring. The most common types of Japanese cherry blossoms in New York are kanzan (pink and two-flowered), yoshino (tiny white flowers that smell like almonds), and okama (tiny deep pink flowers with a reddish-brown calyx that surrounds the petals). Okame cherry trees bloomed in Central Park last year in the first week of March. Yoshino cherry was first spotted in bloom in Hunters Point South Park in late March, and in early April, residents of the metropolis saw the kwanzan cherry blossoms in bloom.

Daylight Saving Time

On Sunday, March 14, 2021, time is advanced one hour. This means more daylight hours and later sunsets.

Azaleas

The buds of these flowers were seen in Central Park in the second week of March.

Magnolias

For many New Yorkers, the official spring kicks off with the arrival of magnolia blossoms in Central Park. Last year, star magnolias bloomed for the first time in Central Park in the second week of March. By early April, the park was full of flowers.

Pear Callery

This type of pear is one of the most common types of street trees in New York. Their flowers are clusters of tiny snow-white buds. Kalleri pears usually begin to bloom from mid-March to mid-April. Last year, pears all over New York were in full bloom at the end of March.

Wild apple tree

These pink and red colored trees were spotted in Riverside Park in early April last year.

Scarlet Canadian

Unlike other flowering plants, the buds of this tree grow directly from the branches, not from the stems. Its flowers can be lavender and pink and look like pom-poms on the branches. For the first time, buds on these trees were seen at Stuyvesant Square in mid-April last year, now they are expected to appear in the same period.

Tulips

Tulip season reaches its peak between late April and early May. They add vibrant colors along the footpaths as spring fades into summer. Last year, tulip season at the Gateway Triangle hit mid-April.

Flowering dogwood

Flowering Dogwood is a unique flower whose petals are actually leaves. They are distinguished in color from white to pink to pale red, and they usually bloom in April.