Even before the snow melts and winter officially ends, it begins. Plants and animals wake up, and so the most spectacular parade begins. A seemingly endless barrage of species, one after another, go through their cycles, intermingled together, taking advantage of the time when they can make the most impact due to the lack of overgrowth. The ephemeral, or short-lived blooms, are the most striking with their vibrant colors and delicate, unique traits.
I am on edge in early spring, watching for the first signs. Sometimes, it can begin as early as late January or early March, depending on the weather. I have a few local parks, which I have frequented to watch multiple times for signs. I also have Ohio locations that I know yield some of the rarest or the most diverse wildflowers.
Each species’ bloom period progresses geographically from the South to the North. So you can watch for signs online when a species begins at its southernmost boundary and progresses to its northernmost boundary.
Winter is in its peak period, but there are still things to consider. I like to photograph the various seed heads from last year’s growth. Some can be difficult to spot among the leaf litter, but others with taller spikes and more durable shells, like the Goldenrod, are more prominent across the prairies. Add a little snow on them and some macro shots of the seeds getting ready to disperse, and you have a unique perspective.
Beginning with the Skunk Cabbage in Ohio, which can heat up and thaw the ground, emerges a striking yet challenging-to-spot flower unless you know where to look for it. I have several populations of various species, which I monitor, and in turn, they tell me when the parade starts. Aside from the Skunk Cabbage, other species are choice indicators if you know when and where they grew last year.
The Snow Trillium is a tiny, delicate white flower that can pop through snow and disappear in a few days. I have several populations of these, just in case I miss one. They progress from south to north as the ground warms from the more direct sunlight.
Tiny Harbinger of Spring, aka Salt and Pepper, is especially difficult to see as its size is only a couple of inches tall, barely enough to break through last year’s leaf fall.
Red Maple flowers are often overlooked high in the tree tops. Still, their beautiful red flowers can paint the hillsides from afar, along with flowers from other hardwood species, such as Elm, Tulip Poplar, and Hickory, which frequently grow with them.
From then on, the parade continues, picking up speed even simultaneously featuring dozens of species side by side.
I will leave you now with this introduction to the Wildflower Parade, and invite you to frequently visit the procession of wildflowers on my main Wildflower page in the menu.
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