No time of the year is better for viewing northwoods wildflowers than the spring. Many wildflowers take advantage of the month between final snowmelt and the coming of the leaves to luxuriate in the fullest sunlight of the year. At times, it seems the forest floor here is a living carpet of bunchberry, canada mayflowers, starflowers and more. And few things can top the sight of a black ash or cedar swamp aglow in the golden light of marsh marigolds. If you haven't experienced spring in the northwoods, you don't know what you're missing.

Here's a selection of our favorite spring flowers. Enjoy!

Round-leaved Hepatica This is probably the northwood's earliest wildflower. These tiny white, sometimes purple, six-petaled flowers can be found as soon as the snow melts, most often seen under pine trees and in damp, mossy areas. The three-lobed leaves are the best way to identify this delicate spring flower. The name hepatica comes from the plant's use as a folk medicine. It was believed useful in curing a number of liver ailments.

Marsh Marigold Few if any spring wildflowers can rival the stunning display put on each year by the marsh marigold. This wildflower is found in nearly any damp spot in the northwoods in the month of May, but is especially fond of black ash and alder swamps. Where they are found, they grow in profusion and they often turn their favored haunts into radiant "gold mines" of spring beauty. This plant was widely used medicinally by Native Americans. Ojibway Indians mixed a tea brewed from the marsh marigold with maple syrup to create a cough medicine. The plant can irritate skin and sniffing bruised plant parts induces sneezing.

Sweet Coltsfoot This unusual wildflower blooms for just a short time in the early spring. It is one of the toughest wildflowers to identify from a guide book because its leaves often are not found near the flower stalk and usually don't even appear until weeks later. The leaves of this plant are a common sight in the northwoods in summer, resembling the mayapple. It is believed to have medicinal properties, mainly for the cure of sore throats.

Bellwort Take a walk through an aspen woods in May and you should find bellworts in bloom. Look for the bright yellow flowers and curled petals. Don't confuse it with the similar flower, called Wild Oats. That flower has paler yellow flowers with petals that come together to form a bell.

Click here for more spring flowers