The Best Springtime Flowers​

BY CATHERINE LITCHFIELD '23

The second half of the school year calls for earlier sunrises, melting snow, and flowers blooming. To celebrate spring, here are my favorite spring flowers!

Daffodils:
​Each morning in March and April, I check the garden in my front yard, hoping to see the first-blooming spring flower, daffodils. Once one blooms, there seems to be a million daffodils the next day. Daffodils have to be my favorite spring flower, not due to their appearance, although the bright yellow is welcome after a gray winter, but because they signify the start of spring through their lovely presence.

Azaleas:
​Whenever I see azaleas, all I think of are the several big azalea bushes that line my house. These flowers are one of my favorites because they come in many different colors like white, pink, purple, yellow, orange, or multicolored, which look especially beautiful in the hundreds of little flowers that make up each bush. My personal favorite color in these flowers is fuchsia, which reminds me of home during this time of year. These bushes also seem to attract every bumble bee within five miles, which is another reason why they’re extra special!

Hydrangeas:
One of my favorite late-spring flowers, hydrangeas are as pretty as they are fascinating. They are unique-looking bushes made up of a bunch of little flowers shaped like spheres and are common in Cape Cod, so plant these flowers for your “coastal grandmother” aesthetic. Hydrangeas also range from light blue to purple in color, making each bush a little unique but still beautiful. Another fun fact about hydrangeas: the pH of the soil affects the color of the flowers: the lower, the bluer; the higher, the pinker!

Tulips:
This springtime flower list would be incomplete without tulips, the staple spring flower in everyone’s garden. They stand out with their vibrant colors, strong aroma, and cup-shaped petals. There’s a reason why the Dutch loved tulips! But be warned, tulips are one of deer’s favorite flowers to snack on.

Pansies:
Pansies are a flower that could be pretty much any color imaginable. Like azaleas, they too can be multicolored, but they often look more spotted than azaleas. Pansies are great for displaying in pots and hanging planters. In fact, they happen to be one of my mom’s favorite flowers to buy in the Spring for our pots. Pansies are also pretty resilient; they don’t mind the cold weather, so they work well as Fall flowers too!

Lily of the Valley:
Lily of the Valley are uncommon garden flowers, yet they are very elegant. They look like little white bells and are dainty–perfect for a “cottage core” vibe! They also grow well in shade, making them a good addition to the darker side of your garden. I also must admit that lily of the valley is my birth flower, so maybe I am a little biased towards them.

Although I appreciate every garden in my neighborhood and the colorful flowers that make up each one, these are my top six favorite spring flowers. Happy Spring!