Spring flowers give positive energy

Spring flowers give positive energy, especially for these restricted days we are still living due to the Corona virus. I have enjoyed walking in the nature and was delighted to see first glimmer of yellow color in the otherwise brown land. The first bright yellow flower had appeared and it was Colsfoot. Soon after that Hepatica nobilis and White anemone followed.

Coltsfoot, Tussilago fanfare (Leskenlehti)

Coltsfootf is one of the first plants in spring. The bright yellow flower buds shine in the heads, even if the landscape around is still quite gray and snowy. Coltsfoots buds are already developing previous autumn and warm sun rays wake the buds. Yellow oases in the brown field attract insects like Common brimstone (sitruunaperhonen) to dine.

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With its early flowering, the Coltsfoot tends to avoid competition with other plants and ensure its own pollination. In Finland last winter was mild except in the North Finland. In March a few warm days got the Coltsfoot bloom. In Finnish Coltsfoot is Leskenlehti; lesken = widow, lehti = leaf. Reason for this sad name is that the large leaves of the plant develop later in the summer.

Hepatica nobilis (Sinivuokko)

The blue flower opens on the southern slopes early in the spring. The plant is able to start flowering early, as it grows its buds already in the fall like Coltsfoot. Leaves remain evergreen throughout the winter.

Before modern garden and flower shops, Hepatica nobilis was a sought-after commodity in markets. Indeed, the current occurrence of many species is result of human transplants. Hepatica nobilis is not able to vegetatively expand its area. Naturally, the species is propagated only by seeds which ants transport from one place to another. One plant can produce up to a dozen thousand over the long life of the plant, it can live up to fifty years.

In Lohja, where I spend my free time, Hepatica nobilis is widely spread. I wrote in my previous post I saw mourning cloak (suruvaippa) that in Lohja diverse nature is based on calcareous rock and soil as well as mild and long growing season. Happy to be in Lohja as the nature is absolutely one of a kind.

Hepatica nobilis is protected in Finland. It would nice to know is this flower common in your country. Please leave a comment 🙂

White anemone (valkovuokko)

Uusimaa’s provincial flower White anemone is a common plant in the groves of Southern Finland. In the northern part of Finland, White anemone is rare and protected.

White anemone is a perennial plant that propagates effectively through its long rhizome. Flowering peaks in May before the deciduous foliage has reached full cover. Like Hepatica nobilis also White anemone gets help from the ants, namely White anemone seeds contain oil that attracts ants. When ants are transporting seeds they help to spread the plant.

When I was a child I usually picked up White anemone for my mother and grandmother for Mothers day. In Finland we are celebrating Mothers day second Sunday of May and usually White anemone is blooming nicely right at that time.

By the way, do you have these plants in your country? Are they rare or not? It would be nice if have some time to leave a comment 😊

Thank you for reading my blog. Take care and be safe 🙏🏻

Minna ❤️