April 2020: True oxlip [Primula elatior] (Wald-Schlüsselblume, Hohe Schlüsselblume, Wald-Primel): It's not surprising that the cowslips were already in bloom in March 2020 after the mild winter. But then, at the end of March, after the astonomical end of winter, we had the lowest temperatures of the year (lowest since February 2019 in fact!) and for the second time "this" winter a layer of snow! Most of the early spring flowers survived and hopefully all the fruit trees did so as well. Compared to the cowslip, the oxlip's blossoms are brighter yellow (sulfur-yellow) and don't have any orange color, are more flattened and smell fainter. They prefer wet soil and accept shady habitats. The latin name "Primula" refers to the early blooming time: lat. primus = the first.
