Where Is It?

For many around the Washington, D.C. region, spring means cherry blossoms. As winter begins to fade, the anticipation increases. When will peak bloom be?

Whether driving down I-270 to find them around the Tidal Basin and the Jefferson Memorial, or spotting an abundance of them walking through Baker Park in Frederick, the hunt for cherry blossoms means springtime is here.

But, did you know that there’s another amazing bloom that comes out each spring in the region?

The bluebell, a species native to the Chesapeake Watershed, typically blooms in the first few weeks of April.

A carpet of bluebells in the springtime is a must-see. The delicate blue-and-pink flowers are a cheery, delightful sight in a backyard or along a trail.

These beauties show themselves for just a few weeks, then their foliage gently turns yellow, lays down and returns to the soil. Before you know it, they are gone, not to be seen again until the following spring.

So where can you catch a glimpse of these special flowers around Frederick? There are several spots, including trails in Gambrill State Park.

But a favorite, relatively unknown spot where bluebells abound is the Monocacy Trail at Rivermist Park in Frederick.

Tucked behind the former Wal-Mart shopping center off Maryland Route 26, the park doesn’t look like much upon approach to the parking lot. But once you walk down past the trailhead, within a few hundred yards of the busy Monocacy Boulevard, a quiet, beautiful paved trail reveals itself. Vibrant woodlands with many tree species, native florals and plants and wildlife abound on either side of the Monocacy River.

Even though you are very close to busy roadways and bustling shopping centers, once you are on the trail, all the noise and busyness melt away.

Spend some time here drinking up nature, but make sure you do it in April, when the bluebells abound. It’s a truly special, springtime-only experience. And once you’ve discovered it, you’ll be telling everyone you know where it is.