Color Inspirations: The First Spring Wildflowers

May 21, 2017

A month before the aspen trees began to leaf and show their bright green colors against blue skies, the first wildflowers of spring emerged through gravel along roadsides and Ponderosa pine forests in South Park, Colorado.

At Easter this past April, the Pasque Flowers, named for the holy day, appeared right on schedule. I took this photograph at the side of the dirt lane in front of my home.

And these photos in the needle piles under our pine trees:

You can understand why the pioneers on the prairies and high country called these lavender flowers wild crocus. They are not related to crocus, however, but rather to the buttercup family. These early spring wildflowers are not amenable to garden cultivation. You have to appreciate the wild Pasque flower wherever it appears. There are European cultivars with much bolder colors that can be grown in high country gardens. Pasque flower is the South Dakota state flower.

I look for these friendly first flowers of spring every year. This year, they inspired me to see if I could express their soft colors in my natural stone jewelry.

Pasque Flower inspired colors. "First Love" earrings available at PebblesAtMyFeet.com.

I love the not-quite blue, not-quite purple, pastel color of the flowers. In the earrings shown, blue chalcedony and amethyst nuggets try to capture it.

I browsed some shops of my artisan friends to put together a collection in the purple, lilac, soft blue, realm that the Pasque flower expresses so naturally. Here are a few finds. All of these artists are independent makers and sell on various platforms on the internet. I hope you'll visit all of the shops represented. And keep them on your handmade shopping list.