Dellwood Nature Notes – May 2025
Dellwood Nature Notes
By Lisa Cortes
Minnesota Master Naturalist
Dellwood City Naturalist
May is a time of great change in Dellwood, marking the transition from spring to early summer. Nature is bursting into life with new growth. Jack-in-the-Pulpit and Large-flowered Trillium are emerging in the woods. Bird song fills the air as the males establish their territory and attract the females. Listen for the bubbly trills of the house wren at dawn and the rich liquid notes of the Northern Oriole high in the tree canopies.
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| Jack-in-the-pulpit | Large flowered trillium | Northern house wren | Northern oriole |
Garden Tips
Attract birds and butterflies to your backyard by planting a few native flowers and fruit trees. Butterflyweed, Rough blazing star and Black-eyed susan are irresistible to butterflies and will add color to your garden. Black cherry, service berry and wild plum are just a few of the native fruit trees that will attract birds while decking your garden with blossoms and berries.
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| Butterflyweed | Rough blazing star | Black-eyed susan | Black cherry | Service berry | Wild plum |
Kid’s Corner
Why are plants green?
Plants catch and store the sun’s energy in a process called Photosynthesis. It converts the sunlight, Co2 and water into food. All this takes place in a plants leaves. The leaves have a pigment called chlorophyll which makes them green. What happens when leaves don’t get sunlight? Do this experiment to find out:
- Take a few small pieces of cardboard and attach them to several leaves on a tree or bush. Cover only part of the leave.
- Wait a few days, then remove the cardboard. What did you find?