Blue Phlox in Hardwood Forest, Ohio

Springtime in the eastern hardwood forests is one of the best times of the year. Before the biting insects are out, before it gets sticky hot in summer, this is a time to wander and enjoy the early spring wildflowers in bloom.

Many of the woodland wildflowers bloom in early spring before the deciduous trees have leafed out. Why? Probably because there's an advantage to attracting insects to pollinate them before everything else blooms and gives them competition. At least that's my theory.

In this photo, made at Germantown MetroPark southwest of Dayton, Ohio, we see the lavender five-petaled blossoms of blue phlox, a native wildflower. The rich green leafery providing the backdrop to help show the phlox blossoms off is courtesy of a mayapple, a trillium, and some garlic mustard (which is an invasive plant, not native to this area).

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