Spring natives are starting to flower in our backyard habitat. Currently in bloom or just getting started to bloom are two of my favorites: Columbine and Shooting Star. Feature photo is of a flower now in bloom in our yard.
Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) is a generous self-sower and will spread throughout an area in which it is planted. The red and yellow flowers are a favorite of bumblebees and honeybees. The photos below were taken at North Carolina Botanical Gardens in Chapel Hill.
Shooting Star (Dodecatheon meadia) is a spring ephemeral whose flowers remind me of graceful swans. While I’ve not noticed any pollinators on these unique flowers, I have them in our habitat because they are visually pleasing and I love the name ‘dodecatheon’.
