Early April and the landscape still appears to be in winter hibernation on a rare warm early spring day. Will spring come this year, people are beginning to wonder with cold and snow still in the forecast? There’s a lot to do but on this beautiful afternoon but I decide to head to a park and see if there’s any signs of this elusive spring – maybe some colorful mushrooms, migrating birds, or an early spring blossom out on the prairie. Loading my camera into the car I head to a place where Pasque Flowers bloomed last year. If there’s any sign of spring, these will be it. At least much of the snow has disappeared and ice covered lakes are starting to thaw. Spring has to eventually make it’s annual appearance, right? Exiting my parked vehicle I can see the landscape appears to still be asleep in a winter slumber. Anticipating very little to see I still grab my camera and begin to hike out to where the first spring blooms emerged last year.
Entering the area, I began to walk slowly back and forth looking for any sign of life while getting a few odd looks from others out for a stroll wondering what I may be looking for. Getting closer I could tell some of the grasses where beginning to show some green. The prairie is starting to wake up. Scouting amongst the dried up leaves and stems from a season ago, I eventually saw a pop of color. These must be the Pasque flowers! Getting closer, they were indeed the first flowers freshly opened just inches from the thawing ground. Kneeling down to take some photos I glanced up only to be stared at by a passer by in a very concerned way. They may not have seen the camera and were likely trying to figure out what I was doing. Eventually they continued on their way and I resumed my exploration of these beautiful little flowers. An occasional fly would enter these little purple blooms being one of the only sources of food available. A surprising and successful adventure out on to the Prairie! Yes, spring was on it’s way!
