It’s easy to wander and wonder through the yard and woods and be bedazzled by the spritz of spring colors. There are so many spring flowers in bloom right now and each one garners attention with its own special hue – from whites and pinks to oranges, yellows, reds and purples. But look more closely and the colors are just one of the flowers’ attraction. Their shapes are both varied and unique, each hinting at the story of how they attract certain pollinators and leading the discerning observer to wonder how it all works. Every one of us probably drew our first flower to look like this …

But there are so many more shapes to flowers than these sort of “typical” ray flowers. Take a look…

So many modified petals and other flower parts! What an array. From the dangling spikes of the fringe tree to the specialized nectaries of the columbine, each flower is unique and well-adapted to meet its role in the web of life. It’s something most folks don’t think about much, but it’s such an important part of how and why certain flowers and insects interact. Flower shapes have co-evolved over time with their pollinators. But shifts in pollinators can change flower traits quickly, too. There’s a really nice and easy-to-understand explanation about flower shapes and pollinators here.

Whatever the influence or time it took to create all these amazing flower shapes, I’m grateful to be able to witness them in my garden and woods. Take some time this week to look closer at the flowers you encounter, what shapes do you find and who is visiting them?