Where I am at the moment, on the sun coast of Florida, I’m not quite sure what constitutes “Spring”. But hearing the word rushes my mind back to my childhood and the backyard of my grandparents which backed up to a very large Metropark system which followed the valley of Rocky River. Their yard merged with fields which were not being used for much of anything but hadn’t yet become a secondary forest, and then in the distance we could see the line of the true woods. Before I could even really walk that far, I remember my grandfather taking me in a wheelbarrow on the paths to see the early spring wildflowers. And when I was older I was able to roam around on my own with the lovely freedom of those of us growing up in the late 40s and 50s in most of the US.
It isn’t at all spring yet. Indeed I just checked the weather and see it’s below freezing now and will only reach 19degrees tonight. But by the time I am home, I hope lovely Spring will be filling the woods with flowers.
Spring Beauties – Claytonia Virginica
Marsh Marigold – Calthra Palustris
Hepatica
Blood Root
Virginia Bluebells
violet – which I find in many shades of white lavender purple and even yellow
Solomon’s Seal
Jack in the Pulpit
I grew up on the plains just south of lake Erie, a flat land that has been the bed of several ancient seas, and have spent most of my adult life south of that in an area that is much hillier and partly glacial moraine. But everywhere I’ve had an rich abundance of wild flowers around me.
I feel so lucky to be surrounded by all this life and beauty and to have had a chance to know it really well as a child so that it became part of me forever.
I’m so glad that you’re in Florida missing this lingering winter. Your discussion of wildflowers reminds me that I really want to find some Mayflowers this year. It’s been far too long and I lover their scent.
I’ve only smelled Mayflowers once in my life and they were so wonderful! An old lady who lived in our township told me about 30 years ago that they grew somewhere here, but would not tell me where because she wanted their whereabouts to remain a secret for their protection. She’s not with us any more, alas…..
While it is still way too cold here for my liking, there are crocus, snowdrops, primroses and other small spring flowers about, and listening to the birdsong in the mornings and evenings can trick you into believing it is much warmer than it actually is. Spring is really here – it just needs to warm up, that’s all 🙂
Beautiful wildflower photos bringing back sweet memories. I hope you miss winter’s last bitter gasps and return home to spring in full bloom!