4.13.12 The list of this sunny morning's observations includes nine painted turtles sunning on a partially submerged log; wood frog egg clusters the size of softballs in a vernal pool; black flies out for blood - and the pictured Great-spurred violet. If you saw John's photo of the Northern White violet yesterday, observe the "beards" on the lateral petals. The pale violet-colored Great-spurred violet is characterized by the spur on the back of the flower and the fact that it is beardless. Also pictured is my first sighting of the season's Jack-in-the-Pulpit with leaves just unfurling and a Garter Snake out sunning itself near the base of a White pine tree.