Poof! Prairie Crocus Appears Like Magic!

A Year of Noticing - Day 218

I’m not sure if there is something in the lightness of spring air (though today was feeling particular windy and wintery again), but I’m feeling child-like curiousity and inquisitiveness pulsing through me!

I feel like I’m noticing things for the first time, and learning something new each day about the natural world around me! Actually, not only do I feel like I’m noticing things for the first time… I AM noticing and experiencing things for the first time!

Today as I was driving north, I passed a hill called “Crocus Hill” and I anticipated seeing the hill covered in an abundance of Prairie Crocuses, but as I sped past nothing of colour caught my eye. I felt disappointed that I might miss their blooming, which is typically only about a month each year (from mid-April to mid-May).

I don’t recall ever seeing these flowers, with are the provincial flower where I live. Since I live in the city, and the Prairie Crocus grows wild, in spaces that are still natural prairie habitats, and they are actually a species at risk in some areas.

After driving for nearly six hours, and only thirty minutes from my final destination, my body was feeling like it needed a stretch break. I stopped at a small rest area and slowly unfurled my body from the vehicle and started walking around to stretch my legs. As I glanced down into a small ravine, I noticed a little bit of colour peeking up through the dried grass and ventured closer to investigate.

Prairie crocus in spring

I’ve heard that Prairie crocus are a bit furry or hairy, and when I got closer, I knew I must be in the company of my provincial flower! I was filled with delight! For the first time in over twenty years of living in this province I have finally been gifted the opportunity to witness the Prairie crocus in bloom in early spring!

(And I later learned that they actually are not even related to the crocus/lily family, but an anemone/buttercup/crowfoot family of flowers… also known in other areas as Pasque flower, wind flower, prairie smoke, blue tulip, ears of the earth, or gosling flower according to the Manitoba Master Gardener Association)

These pale purple flower, often in clusters, decorated this sunny, wind-swept open area where their deep roots help them survive and thrive perennially in the prairies through heat, drought, and hot sun after months of the deep, frigid winter temperatures.

Prairie crocus blooms

While their appearance is very delicate, the Prairie crocus is surprisingly hearty, and I spent a few moments in their company. I was fascinated how some single flowers grew on their own, while in other areas they were in clumps of six or eight flowers clumped together like penguins in a huddle.

I felt full of awe and wonder again, and this spectacular gift of nature, that emerges through some of the dense grasslands of the Prairies without any support from humans. In fact, likely the best thing we can do is continue to protect the Prairie lands where these native flowers grow and thrive so they continue to exist for future generations to also enjoy!

As I got down to their level, and enjoyed a different perspective, I felt surprisingly small and humble, though my relative size physically is larger.

view of Prairie crocus from ground level

This is what the feeling of awe can do, when I embody the feeling of awe, I feel full of wonder and amazed. I could almost imagine fairies running around these tiny flowers, and it felt like magic to find them (even though they weren’t on Crocus Hill), and it was such a gift!

I had to veer off my regular path, pause instead of rushing ahead, look around and be open to adventure and something new, and an unexpected delight… and was gifted with the incredible gift of the Prairie crocus! What gifts of spring are you noticing?

xo

If you’d like to read more of what I’ve been noticing, please check out previous posts in A Year of Noticing HERE.