Spring flowers. The first signs of spring

I’ll introduce you to 13 spring-flowering plants that we can find right on our doorstep in a little photographic tour. 13 – what an insignificant little number, but knowing 13 spring flowers is still better than none, isn’t it?
On your next walk, you’re sure to recognise a few of them. Take a moment to notice the delicate details, the perfection of the colourful blossoms, and take a little bit of positive energy home with you.

Spring flowers have been preparing for spring for much longer than we have. Hidden beneath the leaves or the last remnants of snow, they gather their strength and gradually draw it up from their tubers and bulbs. As long as the deciduous trees in the woods are still bare and sunlight reaches the forest floor, this is their time!

The snow rose is always one of the first to bloom! They can sometimes be found in very large numbers, mainly in sparse mountain forests and on stony slopes. (Tip: Halltal)

These small flowers, which range in colour from deep blue to violet, white and pink, can be found in abundance in spring in mixed beech, oak and coniferous forests. The leaves only appear after flowering and overwinter. This is why you usually do not see any leaves on flowering liverwort.

The name ‘wood anemone’ probably comes from the fact that the petals are very easily carried away by the wind. The three bracts on the stem, with their ‘five fingers’, are particularly striking.

Coltsfoot is one of the plants that is among the first to establish itself on the most inhospitable ground. It is also always one of the first to flower in spring!

In spring, when there is plenty of light, the plant produces open flowers which are pollinated by insects. In summer, however, in the shade of the trees, it produces closed flowers which self-pollinate.

One flower – many names: the Bavarians call it ‘Gemsbluaml’, the Swiss call it ‘Flühblümchen’ and the Austrians call it ‘Petergstamm’. Here, it can also be found on the reverse of the 5-cent coin. The name ‘Platenigl’ is also widely used here.

Unlike the snowdrop, the spring snowflake (or ‘Märzenbecher’ in Germany) has yellow-green spots at the tips of its petals. The flowers of the spring snowflake are poisonous!

The spring crocus is a real beauty! Unfortunately, its beauty is short-lived, as crocuses fade very quickly.

Daphne is not a ‘flower’ but a small shrub with grey-brown bark. Its scent always reminds me of nice-smelling washing powder. But be careful: daphne is poisonous even if you just touch it!

The first spring flower, which prefers shadier conditions. Wood sorrel continues to grow even with as little as 1/160th of the daylight. In strong sunlight, the plant even changes the position of its leaves by folding its pinnate leaves downwards. This helps the wood sorrel to protect itself from water loss.

Snow heath is a hardy spring-flowering plant. Sometimes it can even flower as early as December. Frost does not harm the plant; it copes well with temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees. Who isn’t already looking forward to those purple patches on the mountains?!

It has an enchantingly sweet scent, is incredibly easy to look after and is regarded as a colourful harbinger of spring.

My absolute favourite flower, once the snow has melted from the mountain meadows in spring. When you see it, you know that early summer isn’t far off… ;)