A FRIDAY QUICKIE

This Friday biological tidbit is a quick one (what were you thinking of?!?).  Have you ever noticed that spring is a GREAT time of year to see forest wildflowers in bloom but forest flowers are not around in the summer when many other species are blooming?  Oh (insert crestfallen body language) you hadn’t?  Well drop everything and go out in the woods and look to be sure I’m not making this up!!!  Ever wonder why forest flowers are not blooming in the summer? Oh (repeat crestfallen body language) you hadn’t?  Erg.  Well forest flowers bloom in the spring because that is when they are getting the most sunlight.  Once the trees leaf out (leaves are fully formed), they block sunlight and reduce the sunlight that reaches the forest floor and those little flowers.  All those spring blooming forest flowers are taking advantage of a good (if temporary) situation.