NILES — With average temperatures in the upper 40s, it might not feel like spring has arrived just yet. But evidence of the spring season is abundantly visible at Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve, where underneath a bed of fall leaves, spring flowers are beginning to emerge in shades of fuchsia, bright yellow and white.

Elaine Rowland, the development and community engagement manager for Fernwood, encouraged those wishing to get a little color in their life to visit the sprawling 105-acres of grounds.

“I do love spring at Fernwood, because it shows that the warmer weather is coming,” Rowland said. “It’s almost like a scavenger hunt, because everything is not in full bloom yet, but it is coming. I like taking walks and hiking around and finding those emerging flowers.”

The flowers can be spotted while hiking on any one of Fernwood’s nine different trails, including a wilderness trail that travels along the St. Joseph River and a tallgrass prairie trail that this summer will be bursting with a variety of wildflowers.

While colder than average temperatures for the spring season have delayed some natural activity at the garden by about two weeks, warm weather is on the horizon.

In the days to come, Rowland said visitors who explore the nonprofit garden will see a host of plants and animal activity coming alive. According to the garden’s botanist Ralph Reitz there are hundreds of perennials, including various flower varieties and about 2,416 active woody plants to view.

A few of the spring flowers visible will include Winter Aconite, which carpets the forest floor in yellow during the spring, as well as pink Primrose and pearly-white Spring Beauty, to name just a few.

The spring season is also an ideal time for bird watching. Among the species inhabiting the sky and plants of Fernwood are red cardinals, orioles and blue jays.

In addition to hiking, Fernwood also hosts a variety of educational classes for youth, adults and families, outdoor exercise groups and crafting activities are also open to the community. The garden is a popular destination for local schools to visit for field trips, offering the chance for youth to learn about ecology and nature.

Construction of new learning center is under way and the building is scheduled to open in the fall. At the education center, there will be two libraries as well as various classes.

A café, gift shop, plant shop, indoor garden and art gallery are also part of the garden.

Fernwood also recently obtained a $25,000 grant through the Lakeland Health Foundation. The funds will be used to make trail improvements, such as new signage to describe the plants and history of the grounds, as well as updated boardwalks and improved bridges.

Before it was a community garden, Fernwood was the private residence of Kay and Walter Boydston. Kay often opened the grounds to others to share her love of nature. Fernwood was officially opened to the public in 1964 through the philanthropic efforts of Lawrence and Mary Plym.

Today, thousands of people per year visit Fernwood to appreciate and learn more about the nature of southwest Michigan. The garden and visitor’s center is open year-round.

“We always want to be available to the community,” Rowland said. “There are plenty of things to learn about nature even in the winter months.”

As for the spring season, Rowland encouraged the community to visit the garden and take in the sights while they last.

“Everyone has been cooped up for the winter,” Rowland said. “It’s time to get out and enjoy the fresh air.”

Fernwood is located at 13988 Range Line Road, in Niles. Admission is $9 for adults, $7 for seniors and $4 for children 5 to 17, children under 5 and members get free admission. For more information visit, fernwoodbotanical.org.