Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris) is a cheerful, bright yellow wildflower that blooms in early spring, native to wetlands and streambanks across much of North America. Spot this flower by noticing its glossy, buttercup-like petals and rounded, heart-shaped leaves. Stewardship Manager Melissa Peterson lists it as one of her very favorite flowers, in part because blooms so reliably! Once you notice it in a particular location, it's likely to return year after year. Note: it's important not to confuse Marsh marigold with a lookalike, Lesser celandine. While similar in appearance, Lesser celandine spreads aggressively, forming dense mats that crowd out native plants like marsh marigold. Unlike Marsh marigold, Lesser celandine has 8 - 12 petals per flower with slightly pointed ends. (fb)

In the last few weeks, WLC Land Stewards have been assisting Melissa and Miranda with checking our trail markers. As part of the program, Stewards learn about local ecology, forest management and trail accessibility. To make trails most legible, we try to hang markers throughout. You should always be able to look forward and back on a trail and spot one of our yellow signs. For the sake of the trees, Stewards learn to hang signs with about an inch of space. This allows the tree to breathe properly. As always, we are so very grateful to the Stewards for donating time to learn more about this land and ensure your visits are more enjoyable. To hear more about the WLC Land Stewards and potentially join us for a volunteer day or activity, email miranda@woodstocklandconservancy.org. (fb)