Around the Block: Flower Forest

When we last strolled Around the Block, we visited the Nether Wastes. Not a particularly nice place to hang out, if I’m being honest! So let’s give ourselves a little holiday, and take a trip somewhere completely different. Today, the flower forest is our biome of the week!

Flowers were one of the earliest additions to Minecraft, way back in June 2009. Forests were added in October 2010. But it wasn’t until the release of The Update that Changed the World in October 2013 that two became one and the flower forest was born.

You’ll know when you’re strolling through a flower forest. It’s a little less dense than a regular forest, but there are huge numbers of flowers spreading across the landscape. The fertility of the ground also means that large oaks are more common in this biome than in regular forests.

Almost every kind of Minecraft flower can be found in a flower forest, making them a great place to visit if you’re trying to fill out your garden or collect dyes. The exceptions are sunflowers (found in plains), blue orchids (found in swamps), and wither roses (created when a Wither kills a mob).

Flower forests are a pretty good place to set up a home. They’re reasonably safe, there’s plenty of building material and beautiful views. Sheep, pigs, chickens, cows, and rabbits are common, and you’ll also find bees and bee nests among the trees. 

Beware when night falls, though, because you’ll need to deal with the usual suspects – spiders, zombies, skeletons, creepers, as well as the occasional Enderman and witch. A fence around your property, along with good lighting, is essential for keeping these foes at bay.

In the real world, there are many wildflowers that grow in woodland areas. Depending on the season, you might find bluebells, blueberries, blue cornflowers, and plenty of other flowers that aren’t blue. In fact, woodland tends to be home to some of the rarest flowering plants, because they’re harder to spot amongst the foliage.

So here’s a challenge for you and your friends. Locate your nearest flower forest in Minecraft, and race to see who can be the first to collect one of every type of flower. The fastest wins. Ready....? GO!