Amaryllis

The beauty of spring is incomplete until the first flower opens. After a long winter, flowers symbolize rebirth and a new world, more sunlight, happiness and a world that is once again fragrant and sweet.

Many types of spring flowers are best planted in the fall to then emerge in spring. Many of these spring flowers are perennials and will bloom every year if you let them.

-Agapanthus is a lovely spring flower that is known by other names as well. African Blue Lily and Lily of the Nile are two of them. This delicate flower has about ten species and bloom in large clusters. They grow on long (2-4 foot) stems and measure approximately 7 inches across.

-The Amaryllis is a colorful flower that contains only one species within its group. It is also known as the Belladonna Lily, however, the term lily is a misnomer because they are not truly lilies, they just have a similar appearance. This flower is a perennial and is found across the world but most especially in the tropics and subtropics.

-Cherry Blossoms are one of the types of spring flowers that are the most fragrant. These flowers are so popular that many communities hold festivals in its honor. It is actually Japans unofficial national flower. The blossoms are pink or white, and have an undeniably sweet fragrance that fills the spring air.

-Hyacinths are charming spring flowers that are long and are gathered together like little spikes. They come in many different shades of peach, white, orange, red, pink, blue, lavender, purple and yellow.

-Daffodils are hearty yellow flowers that symbolize friendship. They are trumpet shaped inside against a star shaped structure. There are at least 50 species of daffodils, and they blossom in clusters. There general color range is white to yellow to orange and sometimes a lime green.

-Crocus is quite a popular little flower because it signifies the end of a long winter. It is a part of the Iris family, and is a perennial. The actual flower is a cup shape that comes in shades of white blue and lavender.

Throughout the United States, there many festivals celebrating the arrival of spring flowers. Winter, for half of the US, is long, hard and cold. By the time the first flower rears its head, the community is ready to celebrate longer days (and shorter nights) ahead. Here are some of those celebrations and the types of spring flowers they represent:

-Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia. This spring celebration is held at an all-seasons resort and features an array of mountain laurels, daisies, daffodils, azaleas and dogwoods. There is much to do here for both a couples getaway and for the whole family. This event takes place over the course of 5 weeks.

-New England Flower Show in Boston, Massachusetts. This one involves 40 displays (all indoors, in case the temperamental spring weather does not cooperate) and is held annually in mid-March, which, historically may or may not be pleasant outside.