New this year, native plants bloom among the daffodils
Thousands of daffodils are expected to be at or near peak-bloom through next week along the 0.8-mile Daffodil Trail in Furnace Run Metro Park (3100 Brush Rd., Richfield).
Parking in the gravel lot is limited to about 10 cars, so visitors are encouraged to be patient and go weekdays before 4 p.m. There are three picnic tables and a porta-potty near the start of the trail.
This year, visitors will enjoy updates at Daffodil Trail that will preserve the trail’s namesake flowers while supporting local wildlife with native plant species. While visually stunning, daffodils are not native to North America and therefore provide no food or other benefits to local species. However, the daffodils along the H.S. Wagner Daffodil Trail still hold cultural value as Wagner, the first director-secretary of Akron Metropolitan Park District (now Summit Metro Parks), planted the first bulbs along the trail. After he retired in 1958, he sold the property to the park district and the land became part of Furnace Run Metro Park.
To preserve this cultural history, park staff and volunteers planted an additional 13,000 new daffodil bulbs last fall to bolster the trail’s current population. Additional action was taken this spring to support our local ecosystem in alignment with the park district’s conservation-focused mission when park staff and volunteers returned to plant 456 native plants along the trail. Species include spring ephemerals like Jack-in-the-pulpit, Virginia bluebells, mayapples and bloodroot, which will bloom among the daffodils. Summer and fall blooms were also added to provide enduring beauty that will transition with the seasons and support wildlife throughout the year.
Keep an eye on the park district’s social media for updates regarding spring blooms along Daffodil Trail.