In a few short (long) weeks, winter will break and the first signs of spring will appear – longer days, temperatures creeping up, a tinge of red buds filling the forest canopy ahead of the leaves. And among those first signs is the arrival for spring wildflowers, the first of which is very likely to be the spring beauties.
These delicate flowers rise only a couple of inches from the little of the forest floor amid green daggers to bring the first touch of color. The range of hues, from pink to purple, is pleasantly unpredictable alongside the touch of yellow at their core. These blossoms are as delicate as they appear, and a touch of late-season frost will erase them entirely, as happened last year.
Like so many lovely things, their beauty is ethereal and fleeting; even with good weather, their window is about two weeks at most. However, as the spring beauties begin to fade, others step up to take their place, as springtime moves into full swing.
Just a few long weeks to go…