During this period, virtually all part of the woodland wildflowers disappear, leaving no trace on surface. Wildflowers that do grown in the shade of the fully leafed hardwood forest derive their energy from the living trees and the dead plant material on the forest floor. Some of these plants that grow mid-summer have lost their chlorophyll and are white or clear in colour. The soil is rich in organic material and leaf litter. Soil is generally moist because the soil retains moisture and the tree leaf cover keeps the sunlight from drying out the soil.
Plants receive abundant sunlight in the spring and filtered light in the summer.
Deciduous forest in the spring. Because there are no leaves in the spring, sunlight reaches the forest floor and wildflowers are able to grow. Deciduous forest in fall. The yellow leaves indicate most trees are poplar and birch. The Canadian Shield is characterized by the presence of rocky outcrops.