Bloom and autumn color compass
Wild garlic

Withering and retreat of the wild garlic

After intensive flowering, the wild garlic begins to shed its splendor again. The blossoms wither and release their seeds. The leaves fade, wither and retreat into the ground. This releases essential oils that fill the forest with a fine garlic scent. The forest floor is full of slowly decomposing, yellow-brown wild garlic leaves. But the wild garlic remains in the soil as a bulb. It is preparing for the coming year, when it will bloom again in full force.

 

Magical wild garlic hotspots:

almost everywhere in the Hainich, particularly recommended: 

Craular Kreuz Walking Path
Primeval forest Trail
Bummelkuppen Path
Saugraben Walking Path
Hünenteich Walking Path
Nature Trail Thiemsburg

Corydalis

Withering and retreating into the ground

After the intensive blooming period, the corydalis slowly begins to fade. The blossoms wither and the entire plant retreats back into the soil. The above-ground parts die and disappear, while the tubers store nutrients underground. 

 

Enchanting corydalis hotspots

  • in Thamsbrücker Grund (accessible via Betteleichenweg - section between Betteleiche and Kammerforst)
  • World Heritage Trail on the descent into the Long Valley
  • in the Long Valley
Liverwort

Fades blossoms and seed formation

The blossoms of the liverwort begin to fade and prepare to form seeds. The bright colours give way to a subtle brown, and the delicate petals fall off. The plant now focuses its energy on producing seeds that will restart the cycle again next spring. Interestingly, the ssed of the liverwort contain a structure known as a "elaiosome," which is made up of fat and various sugars. Ants carry the seeds with the sweet appendage back in their nests, thus playing a vital role an their dispersal. 

 

Enchanting liverwort hotspots:

Wood anemone

Fading flowers and seed formation

After a few weeks, the flowering period of the wood anemone begins to fade. The petals fall off and the plant now concentrates on the formation of seeds. In this phase, the wood anemone slowly begins to withdraw again and releases the nutrients into the roots and rhizomes to prepare for the coming dormant phase.

 

Enchanting wood anemone hotspots:

Spring snowflake

Dormant phase of the spring snowflake

Outside of their blooming season, the spring snowflakes remain in a quiet dormant phase. Deep in the soil, the bulbs lie dormant, storing energy for the next spring. From the surface, nothing is visible, but beneath, the plants are preparing for their next phase of flowering, when they will once agian herald spring with their delicate white blooms. A hidden cycle that becomes visible in its full beauty for a brief time year after year in Hainich.

Autumn colors

Outside the fall season

In winter, spring and summer, the forest shows other facets of its beauty: from the bare branches in winter to the delicate, fresh green of spring to the dense, shady canopy of leaves in summer. Each season shapes the beech forest in its own way and creates space for quiet, natural relaxation. Discover the changing impressions of nature and enjoy the peace that the forest radiates during these phases!