One of the earliest native spring ephemeral plants to bloom in the region, the Virginia bluebell (Mertensia virginica) gets its namesake from its bell-shaped blue flowers. Although first described in Virginia by early botanists, this species is found throughout eastern North America, where it thrives in moist woodlands and river floodplains. Along the Potomac River, some of the more prolific populations can create a stunning “blue carpet” across the forest floor. At Glenstone, Virginia bluebells typically bloom from late March to early April and can be found in several locations including the woodland understory along the path to Tony Smith's Smug, 1973/2005, beneath the Spanish oak near the Gallery, and along the café path. The flowers are especially attractive to pollinating insects, many of which can see ultraviolet (UV) light, making blue hues particularly bright and visible to them. The long bell-shaped blossoms primarily provide nectar and pollen to species with extended tongues, such as honeybees, bumblebees, Anthophorid bees (Anthophora spp., Synhalonia spp.), and mason bees (Osmia spp.). Pollinators that cannot easily reach the nectar may instead cut holes in the flower to access it. Additionally, the Virginia bluebell seeds offer a fatty food source for ants, which carry them back to their colonies and help disperse the seeds across the landscape.

–Bonne Di Giansante