City of Hudsonville - Friends of the Nature Center

Species Profile

Dicentra cucullaria - Dutchman’s-Breeches and Dicentra canadensis – Squirrel Corn are very closely related and when they are not in flower one cannot tell them apart. Both have light green finely dissected, fernlike leaves and only grow to around 8 inches in height. Although the two species often grow together, Dutchman’s-Breeches is usually much more abundant and begins blooming in late April, with Squirrel Corn beginning about one or two weeks later, and both continuing into the middle of May. The two species grow in woodlands with rich well-drained soils and often on hillsides, which is usually the case in the clay of the Hudsonville area.

The flowers are the easiest way to distinguish the two species from one another. Flowers of the Dutchman’s-Breeches are white, tipped in cream or yellow and are often fragrant. They have two spurred petals that reach upward, and the flowers which resemble an inflated pair of Englishman’s “breeches” or pantaloons hang below and along the stem as hung from a clothesline. Squirrel Corn’s white flowers are more rounded and heart shaped with almost lacy-fringed looking petals on the downward side. The tubers or bulb-like roots are also very different. In Dutchman’s-Breeches they are brown and knotty looking, while those of the Squirrel Corn are rounded and bright yellow, looking like a kernel of corn that may have been buried by a squirrel, which is why it is called Squirrel Corn.

Spring in the Nature Center

It is true what they say about Michigan, “if you don’t like the weather, stick around, it will change”. A week ago it was snowing and I was practicing winter driving while returning from Traverse City, today I saw five of our spring wildflowers in bloom and Morning Cloak Butterflies flying at the Nature Center.
Whether you choose to come on one of the interpretive hikes or just walk the trails on your own; spring is a fabulous time to be in the Nature Center. Not only are flowers like Trillium, Dutchman’s-breeches, Marsh Marigold, Bloodroot and possibly 25 others being gloriously displayed, but also the birds are cheerfully singing and scurrying about as the begin to nest and raise their offspring. Other creatures like Raccoons are also busy raising their young and can be observed from a safe distance this time of year. There is one tree, which is visible from one of the trails that Raccoons have used the last several years and shows signs of being used again this year. By taking a slow quite walk in the woods you can enjoy them both.