Plant Photo Album--Flowers of Early Spring

Spring flowers! All over the northern hemisphere, the weather is warming and we look forward to enjoying the first flowers.

What flower means spring to you?

In central North America where I live, the first native to flower is pasqueflower, Anemone patens.

pasqueflower, Anemone patens

Of course, native plants are mostly confined to reserves these days.

Often the first flower of spring that I see is the snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis). This is an early spring flower in Europe.

Crocuses (Crocus spp.) are perhaps the classical herald of spring. Native to Europe and the Middle East, they have been planted all over the world.

crocuses, Crocus spp.

Also a first spring wildflower of Europe is the common primrose, Primula vulgaris. The prim- in the scientific name is based on primus, first in Latin. (my posts about primroses: folklore, botany, words )

common primrose, cowslip, Primula vulgaris

In much of North America, the first native shrub to flower is serviceberry, also called saskatoon and shadbush, Amelanchier alnifolia.

Amerlanchier alnifolia, service berry, saskatoon, shadbush

And soon after, plums and cherries are flowering. My flowering plum photos are from Taiwan, where, as in the rest of Asia, they are beloved signs of spring.