The Marion County Conservation Department released their March Nature Notes on Friday.

The Spring Equinox will occur on Tuesday, March 19th, which marks the official start of spring. According to Marion County Naturalist Marla Mertz, the Worm Moon will be the first full moon of the spring season on March 25th. The first of the spring’s short-lived plants that emerge quickly in Central Iowa should be making their debut in March. Snow trillium is currently budding, so with the warm temperatures, the queen bumblebees and honeybees will be getting their first foods. 

Additionally, the warmer days of February brought out many overwintering butterflies, such as the Comma and a few Red admirals.