Mitali MahajaniSpring – the epitome of new life and transformation, filled with brilliant hues and all that is beautiful in nature. At Ecophiles, we’re big fans of spring and highly recommend you get out there and experience the glory for yourself. Here’s where you can go to make the most of this surreal season in the US.
National Cherry Blossom Festival
Each spring, Washington DC erupts in a burst of vivid colors, uniting throngs of cherry blossom lovers. The National Cherry Blossom Festival is slated from March 20 through April 17 this year. The tradition began in 1912 when the mayor of Tokyo gave 3,000 cherry trees to the US as a sign of friendship.
Family-friendly events you can try at the festival include the Blossom Kite Festival, Japanese Street Festival and the extravagant parade down Constitution Avenue.
Tidal Basin at Washington DC – Photo by Abhijeet Karle via Flickr
Bluebonnets in Texas
Standing just over 12 inches – like all things Texan – the Texas Bluebonnet is a super-sized flower. In bloom between mid-March to mid-April, they can be found around every corner in Texas Hill Country.
There is even a designated Bluebonnet Trail in Ennis. Come April, with the Bluebonnet festivals held in Ennis, Chappel Hill, and Burnet – you simply can’t miss this gorgeous bloom in Texas.
Texas Bluebonnets- Photo by Theodore Scott CC2.0 via Flickr
Texas prairie- Bluebonnets- Photo by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department via Flickr
Tulips and Roses in Oregon
Just 32 miles south of Portland – the “City of Roses” – lies a sea of tulips in Woodburn, Oregon. The Woodburn shoe farm boasts over 40 acres of tulip fields bursting in vivid bloom, along with a windmill in the frame.
Each April, the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival is held at the Woodburn Shoe farm. Celebrate the arrival of Spring in style with local vineyards and restaurants offering wine tastings and small bites on-site, and an infinity of nature’s beauty to behold.
Wooden Shoe Farms tulip festival – Photo by Kirt Edblom CC2.0 via Flickr
Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park
Every summer, wild irises, shooting stars, yellow violets, ladies’ tresses and countless other wildflower species take over Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. The wildflowers bloom from May through August in stunning hues, from shocking pink and purple to vivid reds and oranges. The parks are home to lupine, arnica, arrowleaf balsamroot, paintbrush, penstemon and hundreds of other species of spectacular blooms.
Take a ranger-guided walk to learn about Yellowstone’s variety of flowers from a park expert. And remember that many of the wildflowers are also an important part of animal diets, so watch where you step!
Oxbow Bend outlook at the Grand Teton NP- Photo by Michael Gäbler – via commons
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is one of New York City‘s greatest gifts to nature lovers. With 20 different gardens, pavilions, exhibits, collections and even museums, it has something for everyone to love.
Spring is an especially glorious spectacle at the BBG. Look for magnolias and lilacs in April, azaleas and bluebells in May, peonies and lilies in June.
Lupines in New Hampshire
By the second week of June, the fields of Sugar Hill, New Hampshire come alive with the yellows, reds, and whites of wildflowers, and the vivid purple lupines.
Cultivated in certain areas as a habitat for the Karner Blue – an endangered butterfly, the Lupin is as beloved as this official state butterfly of New Hampshire. Every year, the state celebrates this captivating wildflower with the Lupine festival.
Field of Lupine – Photo by kylepost CC 2.0 via Flickr
Poppies in Mojave Desert, California
In the high desert of western Mojave, at 2600–3000 feet, the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve blooms with the seasonal flowers of the desert grassland. With varying colors and intensity – the wildflower season generally lasts from as early as mid-February through late May. The most famous ones – orange poppies – last from March through May,
Hike eight miles of trails through the rolling hills with stunning views, a draw especially in Spring.
Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve By BorisFromStockdale – CC 3.0 via Wikipedia Commons
Apple Blossom, Virginia
Sticking by it’s slogan ‘Virginia is for lovers’, the beautiful bloom of Apple Blossoms takes over historic town of Winchester every year. This year, the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival falls between April 22 and May 1.
Among one of the oldest traditions in the state – the festival features a carnival, wine fests, cider tastings, orchard tours, music and dancing. Bring your date along – this event promises stunning blooms and whole lot of fun.
Apple blossoms -West Virginia – Photo by ForestWander-CC by SA via Wikimedia-Commons
Tulips and butterfly magnolias in Dallas, Texas
Famous for their butterfly magnolias, the magnificent Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden boasts as many as 500,000 bulbs including tulips, azaleas, columbines and Kwanzan cherries through April.
One of America’s Best Spring Floral Festivals and the largest in the Southwest, the Dallas Blooms brings together nature and art – with sculptor Gary Lee Price’s Great Contributors Bronze Statue exhibit on display throughout the garden.
Dallas Arboretum Blooms- Photo by Robert Nunnally – CC 2.0 via Flickr
Tips to observe wildflowers on the trail in spring –
Stay on the trail – compacted dirt leaves lifeless patches in the soil.
Do not pick the flowers – their seeds are needed for the next season’s bloom.
Do not bring your pets on the trails.
Be prepared for allergies and wildlife.
