April's Wild Umbrellas

Halfway through April, tiny umbrellas pop through the leaf litter covering the forest floor. These are Mayapples. They pop up like a folded umbrella and, as the sun warms them, they unfold their leaves like miniature umbrellas.

After the leaves unfold, all other wildflowers that may have thought of co-existing with the Mayapples will have to think again. The Mayapples will shade the ground with their leaves. Anything that does escape the shade created by the Mayapples will be forced to be taller than the ever expanding April umbrellas.