It’s official: spring is underway! Birdsong rings out from trees each morning, buds are blossoming, and native spring ephemerals are emerging every day.
Spring ephemerals embody the notion of spring as a season of rebirth. During the summer and colder months, these delicate plants disappear from our view. They retreat underground, where they gather and store energy that will propel them back into the visible world when the next spring arrives. From what appears to be bare ground, new life emerges. Its presence inspires more life-giving activity as insects awaken from their slumber and flit amongst ephemeral blossoms.
A happy bumblebee snacks from Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginiana), a native spring ephemeral that can signify woodland wellbeing
Look up, and you’ll see the same story playing out above our heads. Bare branches suddenly “pop” with thousands of small buds that appear seemingly overnight. One day soon, the brown limbs of deciduous trees will be covered once again in green leaves that offer respite from the warming sun. Songbirds reappear amidst the leaves, perching on once-barren branches before taking flight. Humans emerge from our homes to savor the warming temperatures and enjoy the sights and sounds of spring.
Restoration. That’s what spring reminds us of, and that’s what we commit our energy to here at Waxwing: The restoration of forests, meadows, and other landscapes to their natural way of being. The restoration of biodiversity for ecological resilience. The restoration of ecological memory across diverse landscapes, from urban centers to sprawling meadows and woodlands. The restoration of pollinator habitat and wildlife corridors that enable indigenous plants and wildlife to survive, thrive, and contribute to the ongoing health of our ecosystems. And the restoration of humans’ connection to the land that sustains us and to our own roles within our ecosystems.
As part of this commitment, Waxwing has launched a new service wing focused on Ecological Restoration. Our team is guiding several projects, including Mount Gretna’s (Chautauqua Community) Soldier’s Field Meadow Restoration and the restoration of a 5-acre woodland tucked into a suburban community in Lititiz.
A “before” photo from the woodland, which was overrun with invasive honeysuckle and other displaced species that prevented the growth of indigenous plants
When Waxwing was first called to the woodland, it was overgrown with displaced, fast-spreading plants including bush honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii), privet (Ligastrum spp.), multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora), honeysuckle ivy (Lonicera japonica), and yellow archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon). These plants covered the forest floor and filled the understory, preventing the growth of native plants—the wise elders of the ecosystem—and harming the woodland’s ecological wellbeing.
Our team began removing invasive plants—species that have been introduced and struggle to co-exist with the biodiversity that our ecosystems are capable of supporting—in December 2024. We return to the woodland weekly to continue this phase of the project.
Working section by section, we first remove undesirable woody shrubs followed by undesirable groundcovers. As always, our methods are 100% chemical-free, making this process safe for people, pets, and wildlife. We follow the removal process by densely seeding with native plant seeds.
A model or reference ecosystem: Over time, the Waxwing team hopes to restore the Lititz woodland to something approximating this scene from Lancaster’s Ferncliff Wildlife & Wildflower Preserve, which bursts with native spring ephemerals and other plants that are indigenous to Pennsylvania forests
Over time and with ongoing stewardship, the composition of this woodland’s midlayer and understory will shift to feature native shrubs, herbaceous perennials, and groundcovers. This will restore habitat and food sources for countless insects, birds, and other wild creatures, returning the woodland and its inhabitants to greater health and resiliency. It will also create more opportunities for humans to connect with nature and find our own place in the forest. This is a long-term, multi-year project and a true labor of love on the part of the homeowners and the Waxwing team: love for our woodlands and love for all the creatures who rely on them for shelter and sustenance.
In that same spirit of love, we here at Waxwing wish you and your gardens a restorative spring!