Spring ephemeral wildflowers

Holy wildflowers, Batman!! We haven’t had a wildflower season like this in ages. Well, we haven’t had a “normal” spring in 3 years, and the wildflowers have followed suit. In roughly chronological order, here are some of the flowers that have been taking up space in my brain and my camera, waiting to make their way into a painting.

Violet

The violets have been showy, purple and yellow this year, in carpets on the forest floor. They have been growing tall to reach the sun as the leaves have been coming out very quickly this year, with both warm spring rains and sunny days. 

Bellwort

I think this one is bellwort…I love the drooping flowers. They’re very pretty to visit on a rainy day when shedding rain drops into the soil below. 

Bluebells

Ah, bluebells. Some years they hardly make an appearance, not this year though. They are out in force, and the bumblebees seem to love them. Mostly queen bumbles and just a few new workers out this early in the season. The bumblebees are just getting new nests started. 

Jack-in-the-Pulpit

Jack-in-the-Pulpit just shot up this spring. One week I didn’t even notice them, and the next there were full flowers sprouting. The leaves of the plant are often confused with poison ivy. Rest assured, it is not. They like more shade than our itch inducing ivy. Where you find one you generally don’t find the other. 

Ok, enough for today’s wildflower tour. I hope your spring is off to a good start. Until next time, have a wonderful day! 

-Laurel