As temperatures (finally!) warm the Door County Peninsula, many plants begin their floral show. While some bloom through out the spring and summer seasons, many only bloom for a short period during a specific season. The State Parks and Ridges Sanctuary have naturalists on hand to give information and advice on what’s blooming and where to see it. These naturalists are a great resource and they love sharing their knowledge!

The most looked for blossoms and blooms are often the easiest to see and access. Cherry orchards burst into full bloom around mid-May and are easily seen from the highway or side roads. Seaquist Orchards, located along Hwy 42 North of Sister Bay, has hundreds of acres of Cherry trees easily viewed from your car window! Another favorite, the Yellow Lady Slipper, is also abundant along the roadsides of Ellison Bay and much of Northern Door County. The quiet, tree lined, ditches Garrett Bay Rd. and Europe Bay Rd. fill with the bright yellow terrestrial orchids. Both roads also feature lovely parks, as well!

For the more adventurous, all of the State Parks in Door County offer diverse and rare plants to seek out! Peninsula State Park is the most accessible, with paved and gravel trails or rough and rooty trails. Lady Slippers, Lake Iris, Columbine, and Trillium can be seen growing along it’s extensive trails. Newport State Park is more wild and natural, boasting the same diverse plant species, with fewer humans!

The Ridges Sanctuary has a collection of ecosystems, normally found scattered across the globe, clustered into the ridges and swales on the edge of Bailey’s Harbor. With beautiful boardwalks and a fantastic visitors center, guests can view rare and endangered orchids, miniature arctic plants, and carnivorous bog plants!

To make planning your trip to Door County to see the blossoms, the Door County Visitors Bureau has compiled a Blossom Report. It gives a basic over-view of what is blooming and when. You can find it here: https://www.doorcounty.com/discover/blossoms-report/

Give us a call at the Waterbury Inn today to book your colorful Door County adventure!