As the soil temperature gradually rises and daylight lengthens, our stored energy, held safely in our hardy root systems, begins to stir. The signal is clear: winter's dormancy is over. We push new, often reddish-green, foliage up through the moist, cool earth. These initial leaves are crucial, acting as solar panels to fuel the next stage of growth. The spring rains are our lifeblood, providing the necessary moisture for our rapid development without waterlogging our roots. This season is a race to establish our leafy framework before the taller canopy trees above us fully leaf out and shade the forest floor.
By summer, our mature foliage is a deep green, and we have formed robust clumps. Our focus shifts from leaf production to reproduction. We send up tall, branching stems, reaching well above our basal leaves to ensure our flowers are visible to pollinators. Our unique blossoms, with their five nodding, bell-shaped spurs, open. We rely on the activity of long-tongued bees, hummingbirds, and hawk moths to transfer pollen between flowers, as our specific nectar reserves are stored deep within those spurs. The summer sun provides the energy for this spectacular display, while consistent moisture is vital to keep our tissues from wilting in the heat.
As the intense heat of summer wanes and the days grow shorter, our flowering period concludes. The pollinated flowers now develop into small, dry follicles filled with tiny, black seeds. These seed pods dry and become brittle, and eventually split open. We often rely on the gentle shaking of the autumn winds to scatter our seeds away from the parent plant, giving the next generation its best chance at life. Meanwhile, our aerial parts, having completed their purpose, begin to senesce. The valuable nutrients within our leaves and stems are drawn back down into our perennial root crowns for storage. This conservation of resources is essential for surviving the coming winter and ensuring a strong start the following spring.
