Early Saxifrage

Early Saxifrage grows in cracks in rocks. Its name actually means "rock breaker."

Early spring blossoms

Coltsfoot is one of the first to arrive on the scene. The flowers bloom before the leaves show up.

Dandelion , the dreaded weed, offer a bright yellow flower.

Purple Dead Nettle is called "dead" because there are no stinging nettles. Also called Henbit.

Beaked Hazelnut has the male catkins and the small female flowers.

Daphne is a shrubby plant the blooms very early.

Looking for Spring

In searching for spring some expected and some unexpected things showed up.

Periwinkle or commonly called Myrtle

Thale cress - very short lived common weed

Little Mouse-ear Chickweed

House Finch soaking up the sun.

Sandy Jointweed

Sandy Jointweed favors dry sandy locations, and it first flowers very late in the season. John

Slender Gerardia, Purslane

Slender Gerardia favors dry woods and fields. I also find it on sandy river banks.

Purslane, AKA Pusley, shows up in gardens and waste places. John

False Nettle, Black Vulture

Moist or boggy areas are home to False Nettle.

A Black Vulture was cleaning up roadkill along Rte. 30. John

Gall-of-the-earth, Common Mugwort

Tall Rattlesnake Root, AKA Gall-of-the-earth, is flowering in woods and thickets.

Waste places are overrun with Common Mugwort. John

Berries, berries, berries

Highbush Cranberry, Silky Dogwood, False Solomon's Seal and Poison Ivy have all produced a plentiful crop of berries. John

Highbush Cranberry

Silky Dogwood

False Solomon's Seal

Poison Ivy

Zigzag Goldenrod, Carrion Flower berries

Rich woods are home to Zigzag Goldenrod, AKA Broad-leaved Goldenrod.

The berries of Carrion Flower will turn a deep blue-black. John

Closed Gentian, Blackberries, Black Bear

Closed Gentian, AKA Bottle Gentian, favors moist woods and meadows.

A few Blackberries were ripe and ready to sample.

A smallish Black Bear made a leisurely exploration of my compost pile. John