First spring flowers

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First spring flowers

March 7, 2026 by Mike Powell

I was delighted yesterday to spot my first spring flowers of the year during a visit to Woodlawn Plantation in Alexandria, Virginia. Woodlawn is a 126-acre estate that was originally part of George Washington’s Mount Vernon. The main Federal-style house was designed by the architect of the U.S. Capitol, Dr. William Thornton, and constructed between 1800 and 1805 as the plantation house for Washington’s nephew, Major Lawrence Lewis, and his wife, Eleanor “Nelly” Custis Lewis, according to the website savingplaces.org.

During the month of March, 63rd Annual Woodlawn Needlework Show is taking place at this location, reportedly the largest judged needle arts show in the nation, featuring hundreds of embroidered works by artists from around the world. As I was walking from the parking lot to the main building, I spotted a patch of snowdrops (g. Galanthus) and a few purple crocuses (g. Crocus) already in bloom. I did not have my “real” camera with me, but managed to capture these images with my iPhone.

Winter may not be completely over, but the weather forecast for the upcoming weather indicates that the high temperatures may reach the upper 70’s (25 degrees C). I hope to be outdoors as much as I can, soaking up the warmth of those days. Within a month, I hope to start seeing dragonflies again, one of my favorite subjects to photograph.

Posted in Flowers, Nature, Photography, spring | Tagged Alexandria VA, crocuses, g. Crocus, g. Galanthus, iPhone 16 Pro Max, Needlework Show, snowdrops, Woodlawn Plantation | 12 Comments

12 Responses

on March 7, 2026 at 7:19 am | Reply Eunice Miller

Gorgeous
on March 7, 2026 at 7:42 am | Reply Dan Antion

I love seeing the signs of spring.
- on March 8, 2026 at 9:51 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Me too, Dan. It’s so exciting to see so many signs of new life bursting forth into view.
on March 7, 2026 at 8:26 am | Reply Suzette Benjamin

Thank for the beautiful photos of spring flowers Mike. Much appreciated.
- on March 8, 2026 at 9:50 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Suzette. I can’t wait for more colorful flowers to appear.
on March 7, 2026 at 2:24 pm | Reply Mitzy Bricker

Gorgeous, Mike! Interesting history too. OAN, I enjoyed your ‘March 4th’ blog! Blue Rock HorsesFrederick County, Virginiabluerockhorses.com
- on March 8, 2026 at 9:49 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Mitzy. My brain sometimes works in quirky ways and I never quite know in advance what I’m going to saw when I sit down to write a blog post.
  - on March 9, 2026 at 1:27 pm Mitzy Bricker
    
    Well, you do great.
on March 9, 2026 at 2:06 am | Reply kewtiebird

Welcome spring! Lovely.
- on March 9, 2026 at 6:48 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. I love to see all of the bright colors and the new live that emerge in the spring.
on March 9, 2026 at 8:13 pm | Reply Michelle (Boomer Eco Crusader)

It always amazes me that the snowdrops are there waiting under the piles of snow, and as soon as the snow melts, there they are! Truly amazing.
- on March 13, 2026 at 4:52 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  It truly is amazing. I have sometimes seen them in mid-winter in years where we have had very little snowfall.