But if the morels aren’t talking to you, you can pay attention to what phase other spring plants are in, which can signal that it’s time to hunt for morels!  This includes:
 

·   Lilacs are beginning to bloom

·   The first dandelions are beginning to go to seed

·   Oak leaves are the size of mouse ears

·   Mayapples have developed leaves

·   Jack in the Pulpits begin to appear

Of course, plant species will vary in different areas.

Larry Lonik (The Curious Morel, pg. 40) stated that morels pop when wildflowers first bloom, and that the season lasts about three weeks. He conducted an informal survey of morel hunters at Michigan morel festivals in 1983 to find out what spring indicators they rely on to know when to set out.  Some of the responses include:  

• When earth first smells rich, moist and clean
• The first time the thermometer hits 65
• When the first asparagus spears are up
• when hepatica, arbutus and white violets are blooming

Nancy (A Morel Hunter's Companion, pg. 29)  says morel hunting time begins around the average date of last killing frosts in your area. And authors Margaret Evans and Nettie Lou Samuels (Morelling, the Joys of Hunting and Preparing Morel Mushrooms, pg. 25) say, “When the sassafras ‘mittens’ and ‘gloves’ match the squirrel tracks; when the friendly box turtles and hog-nosed snakes come out to drink in the warm spring sunshine; it’s time to be a serious morel hunter!” Fred says it’s a little more general:  “You gotta have general appearances: leaves budding, warm weather, sunshine--and moisture.”