Spring Wildflowers are blooming in Door County!
The Festival of Blossoms is about to begin in Door County. With over 45 native orchid species and many different wildflowers blooming from April to the end of August, Door County is recognized as a natural haven for many endangered species.
Daffodils by Brynn Swanson
Many of the more common wildflowers can be seen from just about any road on the peninsula. You will see daffodils, trilliums, Lady’s slippers and many of the others by simply driving on either of the two main highways. Take a detour down roads like Ridges Rd in Baileys Harbor or many of the county roads in the Northern end of the peninsula to get an up close look at some of the less common blooms.
Every year, thousands of people flock to Door County to see the cherry blossoms blooming in the dozens of orchards dotting the landscape. Always a favorite, the Cherry Blossoms usually bloom around May 22 but have come three weeks early this year. Seaquist’s Orchards, just north of Sister Bay on Hwy 42, has it down to a science. Dale Seaquist can predict, to the day, when the cherries will bloom. They blossom for a few weeks and then begin to grow into cherries, one of Door County’s largest industries. Our area is actually the fourth largest cherry producing region in the nation. There is approximately 2,200 acres of cherry orchards, many of which are visible from the highways. Some can also be found on back roads like Cty E and Cty EE between Egg Harbor and Baileys Harbor.
Cherry Blossoms by Brynn Swanson
Some of the rarest flowers in the nation are found in the Ridges Sanctuary, a 1600 acre wildflower preserve in Baileys Harbor. Ridges Sanctuary is one of the largest concentrations of rare plants in the Midwest. On any given day after mid-April, one can find a variety of native wildflower species by simply walking down Ridges Rd or trekking the trails within the Sanctuary.
Door County’s Wildflower Blooming Schedule:
Starting in April- Daffodils, Hepatica, & Rock Cress
Starting in May- Dwarf Lake Iris (only for the month of May), Clintonia, Trilliums, Mayflowers, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Wild Columbine, Yellow Lady’s Slipper Orchids, Starflower, Bunchberry, Canada Anemone, Starry Solomon’s Plume, Coralroot, Apple & Cherry Blossoms, Wild Strawberry, Red-Osier Dogwood, Sarsaparilla
Starting in June-Blue-Flag Wild Iris, Pink-Flowered Pyrola, Thimbleberry, Swamp Buttercup, Spreading Dogbane, Twin Flower, Evening Primrose, St.-John’s-Wort, Black Eyed Susan, Bluebell
Starting in July- Marsh Five-Fingers & Goldenrods
Starting in August- Purple Gerardia
