With British Spring time just around the corner there are an awful lot of things to look forward to. The rise in temperature, the lighter evenings, lambs and of course the blooming of all the beautiful British Spring time flowers are just some of the things that will be brightening the upcoming months. This article will hopefully highlight just some of the most common and popular blooms that you might see alerting you to the arrival of spring.
Bluebells: Predominantly found in woodland, these dainty flowers provide a sea of purplish blue to be waded through and enjoyed by everybody. Though they do prefer moist and shady conditions, they are not exclusive to woodland and can be found all over the place. In England and Wales you can pick these flowers for your own use, as long as you aren’t intending to sell them, but in Scotland it is illegal to even pick these blooms. As wild, delicate flowers, they aren’t suited to surviving indoors and might not survive the journey home if they are picked. So it’s best to leave this carpet of vibrant colour to be enjoyed by everybody in the wild.
Crocus: Though typically an autumn bloom, this plant’s waxy leaves and great survival instincts mean that it can usually survive enough to bloom in late winter and early spring. It’s usually found in white, lilac, yellow and mauve colours but it actually blooms in a range of colours. It has between 3 and 6 pollen coated stamen so is a veritable feast for pollenating insects. It’s long petals, shielding the stamen, and thing grass like leaves, make it easy to identify.
Forget-me-nots: Forget-me-nots may be found as close to home as your garden and they only bloom in spring. They are obviously associated with the blue colour that is typical to them but they can also bloom in pink or white – though they always have yellow centres. Interestingly, their seeds spread by germination and so they rely on our interest to keep them reproducing – their seeds stick to our clothing and then drop off after some time to plant themselves in new ground.
Daffodils: Even people who know almost nothing about flowers could identify a daffodil. Their bright colours and trumpet heads mean they look like no other flower and these are considered to be heralds of spring. Planted from bulbs, they would definitely appear in your garden – if you planted them there. They can also spread naturally, seeing an apparent sea of daffodils does not mean that somebody painstakingly planted every bulb.
Primroses: Just as delicate as their name would suggest, this species of plant is so popular amongst people that these flowers are not nearly as common as their full name ‘common primrose’ or ‘English primrose’ might suggest. They can grow up to a foot in height and bloom early in spring so are perfect signals to its arrival. However, due to their popularity amongst flower pickers you are more likely to see them on roadside or in other places where it’s difficult for people to get to them.
These are just some of the blooms that you might see to signal spring’s arrival. So keep your eyes peeled and look forward to the beautiful, bright and warm spring times ahead.
