The appearance of the first flowers is a fascinating natural spectacle every year. The “Krone Vorarlberg” presents the most important local early starters:
The first two harbingers of spring appeared in Vorarlberg in February this year: snowdrops from the amaryllis family and crocuses, which belong to the iris family, are the first flowers in the annual cycle in many places. At the end of March their short flowering period is already over. Then a variety of other wildflowers take their place in gardens, meadows and on the edges of forests. Many early bloomers are so-called spring geophytes with an often short growing season. They can cope with unfavorable conditions such as cold, wet and snow and survive after flowering with underground organs (bulbs, tubers or rhizomes). Nutrients and energy are stored in these, which enable the plants to grow quickly at low temperatures. For most early bloomers, the increased sunlight that penetrates the ground through leafless trees and bushes is the starting signal for their above-ground phase of life. They only grow and bloom for a few weeks a year until they literally retreat to recharge their batteries in the earth. For people, the first flowers of the year are a sign of the reawakening of life. Plants like the yellow daffodil, which is also called the daffodil because of the time at which it blooms, have great cultural symbolism and some flowers have been proven to have been part of religious ceremonies since ancient times. The basis of life for many animal species. The first flowers are also eagerly awaited in the fauna – as soon as they open , they are occupied by bees, butterflies and other insects. A typical species that loves the cool weather and now blooms in spring is the primrose, whose strong flower colors are reminiscent of colorful Easter eggs. In total there are around 500 different species of primroses – and almost all of them are widespread in the northern hemisphere. The color palette of primrose flowers ranges from lavender, magenta, pink and violet to yellow and white. The cowslip, whose name comes from the resemblance of the inflorescence to a bunch of keys, also belongs to this plant family. It can currently be found in natural meadows, in sparse deciduous forests or on the edges of forests and rises to a height of up to 1700 meters. Rich colors and fragrant scent The March violet, also known as the fragrant violet due to its floral scent, also joins the ranks of early bloomers becomes. The delicate violet-blue flower also thrives on the edges of forests, on shady groves or under bushes. The plant has been cultivated since ancient times and was used in both religious rituals and medicine. The March violet spreads over foothills, so that it can gradually colonize large areas – as long as it remains undisturbed. The liverwort is also similar in color to the violet, which thrives on nutrient-rich forest soils between March and April and is therefore considered a characteristic species of deciduous forests in Central Europe . The species belongs to the large buttercup family and, like most representatives of this plant family, is slightly poisonous due to the ingredient protoanemonin. However, the plant is an important pollen supplier for insects. There is no spring without daisies. The common daisy, also known as the daisy or lady’s flower, also joins the floral parade in spring, but its blooming period often extends into autumn. Because it grows in almost every meadow, the daisy is one of the most famous plant species in Europe. In the 13th century, the little flower achieved unexpected fame when it was bought by the French King Louis IX. was included in its coat of arms along with the lily. Because of their life cycle, people have always associated early bloomers as symbols of resilience, vitality and renewal. In the coming weeks, their peak bloom will come to an end and they will barely noticeably retreat again – but underground they are already working towards next spring.
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