The Verdant Blush of Spring’s Awakening by Patti Donnellan, CIG, OCVN

Wildflowers do so much more than beautify our landscapes. They are essential components of life: food for insects, birds and other animals, soil builders for healthy forests, medicines for humans, and even predecessors for our familiar garden flowers. Their beauty and utility has been written about for millennia, and with good reason.

The Verdant Blush of Spring’s Awakening by Patti Donnellan, CIG, OCVN

Few things bring greater joy than the verdant blush of spring’s awakening. Woods and meadows, streamsides and backyards begin to fill with sound, scent, and color. Favored spring visitors for many are wildflowers. The endless designs and countless colors can be found nearly everywhere the sun dares to touch, delighting all who gaze upon them. As with us waking from a deep slumber, spring begins slowly; flecks of tiny white petals dot the leaf litter, then flashes of yellow and patches of green, and soon, almost suddenly, the forest floor explodes in a riot of colors. Regal purple, enchanting red and maroon, captivating blue, charming pink and lavender, and even more delightful white and yellow! Sporophytes and sepals, unfurling fern fronds, bursting buds, and tender stems all stretch towards the light of the vernal season. It’s enough to make one giddy!

The spring season is like reuniting with old friends. Seeing wildflowers renews the spirit like an embrace from a beloved friend or family member. It is tradition. It is a memory. It is a truly precious gift, for the season of our spring wildflowers is so brief. Many of our species are ephemeral – the word itself seems longer than the lives of some of these fleeting beauties. Before you know it, and before you may even be ready for it, they are gone; disappeared down into the warm embrace of the Earth’s soils to regenerate so they can replenish our souls at next spring’s reunion.

Wildflowers do so much more than beautify our landscapes. They are essential components of life: food for insects, birds and other animals, soil builders for healthy forests, medicines for humans, and even predecessors for our familiar garden flowers. Their beauty and utility has been written about for millennia, and with good reason.

We are truly blessed in northeast Ohio. Nowhere else have I seen that just a few short minutes from the heart of the city can one completely lose oneself in the amazing natural world, unaware of a busy, bustling world nearby. The climate is very comfortable; there are no serious dangers of severe natural disasters; no major predators that we need to be wary of; and the diversity of our wildflower abundance is truly enviable compared to any other metropolitan area. Flowers of every shape, size, and color are just outside your door, from the diminutive Harbinger-of-Spring to the take notice grandeur of the Helianthus. We’ll take a closer look at some of these fleeting gems and discover their roles in nature, folklore, uses, and origins in upcoming articles. 

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Contributors

Patti Donnellan

Patti Donnellan grew up in Cleveland's western suburbs, exploring the woods, fields, and waterways near her home. Her love of the outdoors was enhanced by her parents, who taught and encouraged outdoor activities like fishing, camping, tree climbing, wildlife identification, composting and gardening. Her love of living things led to many years as a veterinary technician, an education in Wildlife and Fisheries Science, and a career as a professional naturalist. She is a Certified Interpretive Guide from the National Association for Interpretation and Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist. Currently, Patti serves the community as the Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Cleveland, leading rain barrel workshops, assisting with the Cleveland Tree Plan, and helping guide residents to a more sustainable way of living. She can be reached at pdonnellan@city.cleveland.oh.us

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Tom Fishburn

Tom Fishburn, Photographer, got interested in birding in 1980 inspired by two avid birding friends in New Jersey. In 2006, he moved to Ohio not expecting how wonderful the birding and the birding community is here. Tom only started with photography about ten years ago. Eventually, his interests grew to include butterflies, dragonflies, and wildflowers.

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