Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new…” Revelation 21:5
One of the welcome signs of spring in my part of the world is the flowering of the trillium. After months of early darkness, along with ice and snow, seeing a trillium blooming in the mountains is just plain good for my soul.
Trilliums are found in many areas of the world and the flowers can vary in color. The ones I see most often on my hikes are white, although I sometimes see the red and pink varieties as well. They like low pH, or acidic soil, so they do well growing amongst the carpets of pine/fir needles in the mountains.
These plants prefer filtered light from the evergreens rather than full sun. I’ve seen them flowering anytime from March until June, depending on what aspect they are facing and how cold the air drainage is where they’re located. An interesting characteristic about the trillium is that ants tend to play a large role in dispersing their seeds.
I was about to say that the springtime is one of my favorite times to hike. However, to be honest, just about anytime I can get out in the woods is my favorite time, no matter the season.
Springtime hikes in the mountains do carry their own share of hazards. One that immediately comes to mind is the frequent, rapid changes in the weather. This can happen at any time of year, especially in the bigger mountains, but it is particularly true in the springtime. Although not an everyday occurrence, I’ve hiked in some combination of the following: bright sunshine to windy, dark overcast to hail to near whiteout snowfall and then back to dazzling sunshine. I’m probably in the minority, but I find the unsettled springtime weather in the mountains quite exhilarating. Of course, it helps if I’m dressed appropriately and I can find a bit of shelter when needed.
Another hazard of springtime hiking is the higher than normal streamflow. Small creeks and streams that I could easily cross all autumn and winter can turn into impassable torrents in a hurry. I’ve even gone as far as to have our local shoemaker design some lightweight indoor/outdoor carpet soles for my hiking boots. I can strap them on to help keep from slipping on slick rocks while crossing a stream. When in doubt, however, it’s always best to err on the safe side and leave the stream crossing for another day.
As spring progresses, the snows will melt off the higher elevations and new country will become accessible to hike and explore. The renewal of life that has been waiting dormant under the darkness has begun.
I can hardly wait.
Happy Resurrection Day.
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I never see nor never will see the first trillium of the spring without thinking of my late husband. This was his ultimate favorite flower. We have all varieties in our woods: white, pink, and a deep maroon one too. I picked a few to put on our table one day, and he was upset at me. It meant a lot to him that they multiply in our woods and he felt that every one I picked was a whole batch of lost ones. He was right, I suppose.
I think these are extra beautiful too because of the reminder of the trinity. Three of everything: three leaves, three petals, three veins in the petals. I challenge you to find anything on that plant that doesn’t come in threes. Just something interesting to think about.
Hi Sophie,
Thanks for your comments.
Interesting that the trilliums remind you of the trinity.
Trilliums do make good photo ops, but your late husband had a point about not picking them. I’ve read where the trillium sometimes take ten years for the plant to flower, and that they are quite long-lived. You are fortunate to have several varieties of trillium nearby – I’m sure the ants can help make up for the few you picked. In my area one of the trilliums biggest predators is the White-Tailed deer.
In fact, we have two WT deer in our yard right now headed toward our flowers. I’m off to encourage the deer to move along in a different direction, and also to spray some more deer repellant on our plants. We like seeing the deer, but around our home they can be relentless.
Have a great day, and enjoy all the trilliums.
Enjoy the Spring!