Springtime Flowers – Nature’s Re-awakening

Ahh…Springtime Flowers. A time of renewal, and new beginnings. Nature breaking free of the yoke of winter, and warm weather bringing about a re-awakening of dormant floral and animal life. There’s also an earthy smell, and a clean, crispness in the air.

This is perhaps my favorite time of year. Not only is it a welcome relief after several long and cold winter months, it is a source of constant amazement to see how nature renews itself. What was once covered with at least a foot of snow, is now sporting new sprouts, and green foliage everywhere you look. Trees that have been bare since the onset of winter are once again breaking new buds of foliage and blossoms. Their virginity unspoiled by pollution and the searing summer heat.

This hub continues my series of picture essays on each of the seasons. The Summer, Autumn and Winter hubs express my impressions of those seasons, along with photos of nature’s finest work. This Springtime Flowers hub is no exception. Each of these pictures represent a rebirth of nature’s floral beauty. Unfortunately, these springtime flowers are fairly short-lived, but soon give way to the summer flowers, which are equally, if not more colorful. Enjoy.

A hardy shrub which, if pruned regularly, will reward you each spring with a dense cover of bright yellow flowers. These yellow flowers last maybe 2 weeks before turning to green for the remainder of the summer. This photo shows the shrub in transition from yellow to green.

Although it’s hard to tell at this point, these young buds (each cluster is about ¼ inch across) will soon billow into the more familiar large, dense clusters of purple-pink blooms (See my Beautiful Flowers 2 hub).

Ahh…what would spring be without the crocus. They come in violet, yellow or white. They each feature a small yellow stamen. Crocus are one of the first flowers to poke up in the spring, sometimes before the snow has melted.

Although they can become invasive, it’s such a joy to see large swaths of these beautiful blue forget-me-nots in garden beds and lawns everywhere.

Yes, this actually is a tulip. You can tell by the pale green leaves. It is unusual for the petals to open up like this though. I don’t remember the name of this type …perhaps it’s a mutant.

A perennial shrub with dark red foliage throughout the summer. It sports these beautiful white blossoms for a short time in the spring.

Nothing signifies spring more than the many blossoms that come out to face the world. These cherry blossoms with their intricate pistils and stamens is one of the finer examples of nature’s handiwork.

Tulips are some of the best of the springtime flowers. They come in such a wide variety of colors and color patterns. If you want lots of color, a mass planting of tulips will do the trick. They’re longer lasting than most spring flowers too.

The Spirea is a large shrub (about 6 feet tall and at least as wide). Each spring brings a mass of tiny flowers that literally cover the shrub. This is a close-up of the flowers. Each one is less than 1/4 inch (6cm). The flowers are also fairly fragrant.

Another of the glorious springtime flowers is the Iris. Their fascinatingly intricate striped tongue and yellow anthers are a sight to behold. The blooms stand atop 2 foot tall stalks above the spiky leaves. The blooms come in many colours: pink, burgundy, yellow and variations of these.

Despite being the flower symbol for the province of Ontario, Canada, where I live, these are kind of hard to find in urban areas. So this was a rare treat to find this in my back yard, in among some goutweed.

Spring just wouldn't be spring without the beautiful pink blossoms of the magnolia tree. It can grow up to 12 high with a 15 foot spread. They're also available with snow white blossoms. The only drawback is that after the 2 or 3 weeks of blossoming, they make a real mess on the ground for a time.

When you think of springtime flowers, one of the first things that come to mind is of course daffodils. They come in shades of white and yellow, with a frilled, trumpet-like yellow center. It has become a symbol of hope and re-birth, and has been adopted by the Cancer Society.

A lovely stand of trees with a light covering of new foliage. In a few weeks the tree canopy will have obscured much of the light you see in this shot. The brown leaves from the previous fall have yet to decompose.

Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here

All simply in the springing of the year.

Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,
Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;
And make us happy in the happy bees,
The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

And make us happy in the darting bird
That suddenly above the bees is heard,
The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,
And off a blossom in mid air stands still.

For this is love and nothing else is love,
To which it is reserved for God above
To sanctify to what far ends he will,
But which it only needs that we fulfill.

^{Robert Frost}

With another long and cold winter now behind us, we bask in the warmth and color of spring’s re-awakening. Old familiar birds come back to say hello, and serenade us with their cheerful songs once again. Though this newness is a short-lived chapter in the season cycle, it is a most enjoyable one indeed.

All photographs and content are copyright 2011 by +timorous, except as noted.

If you wish to use any of these photographs for commercial use, please contact me for further information. Thank you.