Wildflower report

Observed in the forest today:

• Harbinger-of-Spring (Erigenia bulbosa) - common and widespread
• Cutleaf Toothwort (Cardamine concatenata) - a few beginning to bloom
• Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) - a few beginning to bloom
• Yellow Corydalis (Corydalis flavula) - saw one plant in bloom in a sunny area
• Hepatica - found 2 plants with developing but unopened blooms

Hepatica with unopened bloom

Waiting for spring

Spring. I watch and I wait and look for every little sign. Suddenly the signs are clear. The start of the season has slipped by unnoticed once again. Not waiting for me, the party is already going full force even in cold weather.

"No mortal is alert enough to be present at the first dawn of the spring, but he will presently discover some evidence that vegetation had awaked some days at least before." -- Henry David Thoreau, Journal, March 17, 1857.

Snowfall

There was a small snowfall in the hollow overnight. Before dawn, the sight of moonlight on snow was so beautiful and peaceful. These early morning pictures were taken before the sun had risen above the eastern ridge of the hollow.