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Observations by Gary Fewless for Green Bay WI (Lat.N 44.51° Long. W 88.02° ), except as noted. For flowers lacking conspicuous petals or sepals I define "anthesis" as release of pollen by mature anthers.

May 2013 Mouse-over the photo for the identity of the subject
trout lily and hepatica
Date

Observation (Click on links for photos)
May 31
turkey Male wild turkeys are still doing mating displays the last couple of days, though many females should already be incubating eggs. The photos at left are from Village of Allouez in Brown County.
May 30
dogwood Red osier dogwood (Cornus stolonifera) has begun to flower at my longterm observation site. There were a few flowers open in Baird Creek Park by the 28th.
May 28
mayapple Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) has begun to flower.
May 25
Canada mayflower Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense) has begun to flower.
May 24
flowersd Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) is now flowering.
May 23
showy bush honeysuckle The invasive alien shrub, showy bush honeysuckle (Lonicera X bella), has begun to flower.
May 22
bishop's-cap Bishop's-cap (Mitella diphylla) has begun to flower.
May 21
red baneberry Red baneberry (Actaea rubra) has begun to flower.
May 20
starrt false Solomon's-seal Starry false Solomon's-seal (Maianthemum stellatum) has begun to flower.
  This is the first day I had a mosquito bite in UW-Green Bay's Cofrin Arboretum. I have waved and brushed a few off before now, but this is the first day for a bite.
May 19
wild currant American wild currant (Ribes americanum) has begun to flower.
May 18
early meadow-rue Early meadow rue (Thalictrum dioicum) has begun to flower (anthesis).
May 16 First day of flower for red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa).
May 15
poison ivy Our local species of poison ivy is now well up and growing and is well worth watching for. Poison ivy has many different stages through the growing season. Now, when it is first devloping the leaves are small, shiny and ofetn reddish. As the season progresses and the leaves will become much larger, dull and green. Here is a link to a few more photos.
ironwood

Hop hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana; also called ironwood) is in full flower now in the Green Bay area.

May 14
year comparison

Here is a comparison of similar dates between 2012, an exceptionally early spring, and 2013 an exceptionally late spring. Notice that April 16, 2012 is actually a little farther along in development than May 14, 2013. This difference has been reflected in the phenology dates for individual species which have generally been 4-5 weeks later in 2013 than in 2012, to this date.

First new Canada Geese goslings seen on UW-Green Bay.

May 13 Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) has begun to flower, UW-Green Bay (planted trees).
May 12 Blue cohosh (Caulopyllum thalictroides) has begun to flower, Brown County, Town of Suamico.
May 11 Dog violet (Viola labradorica) and Yellow violet (Viola pubescens) have begun to flower.
May 9 Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) has begun to flower (anthesis) UW_Green Bay and elsewhere in woodlots City of Green Bay.
May 8 First open flowers of broad-leaved toothwort (Cardamine diphylla).
May 7

First fully open flowers of great white trillium (Trillium grandiflorum). Last year this population first flowered on April 14.

First Spring Azure butterfly, UW-Green Bay.
May 6

First goslings (Canada Geese) of the year seen on our local pond, Allouez (Kate Hutton).

Earliest plants of cut-leaved toothwort (Cardamine concatenata) have begun to flower.

A calling Ovenbird was reported from ForestCounty (Ashley Fehrenbach).

May 5 Some paper birch (Betula papyrifera) began to flower (anthesis) today in City of Green Bay. A few planted street trees began yesterday.
May 4

Box elder (Acer negundo) began to flower (anthesis) today in Allouez.

Yellow rocket (Barbarea vulgaris) in flower along Highway 172, Allouez.

May 3

The earliest wild ginger (Asarum canadense) plants I know of began to flower today. It is easy to miss the flowers which grow on the soil surface and are often covered by the leaves.

Forsythia began to flower today at my usual location in Allouez.

We had a Baltimore Oriole in our birch tree this morning eating the oranges in our fruit tray, Brown County, Allouez (Nancy Reichmann).

A large and uncommon May snow storm has swept across the country, dropping 12+ inches of snow in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on May 1, and Cheyenne Wyoming had 15 inches. The storm moved very slowly across northwestern Wisconsin dropping heavy wet snow over a wide area. The greatest amount appears to be 17 inches of snow at Rice Lake Wisconsin, but over two days some areas of Ashland and Bayfield counties received up to 21 inches total. Eastern Wisconsin received only rain for the most part. The low temperature this morning in Green Bay was 35° F.

May 2
trout lily There is still no green in the forest canopy, but the understory and ground level are greening up nicely, as here with this large population of trout lilies (Erythronium).
May 1

New in flower: yellow trout-lily (Erythronium americanum), Dutchman's-breeches (Dicentra cucullaria), and the weedy black medick (Medicago lupulina).

Saw a Rose-Breasted Grosbeak this afternoon in our yard and a heard an Oriole, City of Green Bay (Brian Merkel). 

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Last updated on May 20, 2015